Personal Strategies Research Articles

Single-Cell RNA-Sequencing: Opening New Horizons for Breast Cancer Research.

Breast cancer is the most prevalent malignant tumor among women with high heterogeneity. Traditional techniques frequently struggle to comprehensively capture the intricacy and variety of cellular states and interactions within breast cancer. As global precision medicine rapidly advances, single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) has become a highly effective technique, revolutionizing breast cancer research by offering unprecedented insights into the cellular heterogeneity and complexity of breast cancer. This cutting-edge technology facilitates the analysis of gene expression profiles at the single-cell level, uncovering diverse cell types and states within the tumor microenvironment. By dissecting the cellular composition and transcriptional signatures of breast cancer cells, scRNA-seq provides new perspectives for understanding the mechanisms behind tumor therapy, drug resistance and metastasis in breast cancer. In this review, we summarized the working principle and workflow of scRNA-seq and emphasized the major applications and discoveries of scRNA-seq in breast cancer research, highlighting its impact on our comprehension of breast cancer biology and its potential for guiding personalized treatment strategies.

Can negative axillary ultrasound reliably predict pathologically negative axillary lymph node status in breast cancer patients with cT ≤3 cm, cN0, and HER2-positive?-a retrospective, single-institution study.

Breast cancer (BC) is the leading cancer in women globally, with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive subtype accounting for 15-20% of cases and exhibiting aggressive behavior. The standard of care for operable BC has evolved to include neoadjuvant systemic therapy, which can guide treatment decisions and improve outcomes, particularly in HER2+ BC. This study aims to investigate whether axillary ultrasound has a good negative predictive value (NPV) for early HER2 BC patients and to identify clinicopathological factors that can impact the axillary lymph node metastasis. This retrospective, single-center study evaluated the medical records of 135 patients with HER2+ BC, cT ≤3 cm, and clinically negative axillary lymph nodes from 2018 to 2020. The study aimed to determine the NPV of axillary ultrasound for pathologically negative axillary lymph node status and to identify factors associated with axillary lymph node metastasis. The NPV of axillary ultrasound was 78.5%, increasing to 89.6% and 93.3% when considering 0-1 and 0-2 metastatic lymph nodes, respectively. Lymphovascular invasion (LVI) was significantly associated with axillary lymph node metastasis, with a 2.2-fold increased risk. Axillary ultrasound shows good predictive value for axillary lymph node negativity in HER2+ BC patients with small tumors. However, the presence of LVI increases the risk of metastasis, suggesting a need for neoadjuvant chemotherapy. These findings contribute to personalized treatment strategies for early HER2+ BC, emphasizing the role of axillary ultrasound in clinical decision-making.

Relationship Between the Level of Adaptation in the Educational Environment of Higher Education Institution and the Choice of Strategy to Ensure Personal Safety of Students

Introduction. The article is devoted to the study of the relationship between the level of adaptation in the educational environment of the higher education institution and the choice of strategy to ensure the personal safety of students. The relevance of the study is due to the lack of scientific works that aim to identify the relationship between the categories considered, as well as the growing need for a sense of personal security in the modern world.Objective. Identify the relationship between the level of adaptation in the educational environment of a higher education institution and the choice of strategy to ensure the personal safety of students.Materials and Methods. The following methodological tools were used to collect empirical data: methodology for diagnosing the level of students’ adaptation to university (M. S. Yurkina and A. A. Smirnov) and the author’s methodology for determining students’ personal security strategies. The author’s methodology is based on the differentiation of personal security strategies into avoidance, negotiation, and action strategies. The sample consisted from the 50 students of Novosibirsk State Pedagogical University of the first and second year of study. The research program included four stages: 1) identifying the personal safety strategies of the students of Novosibirsk State Pedagogical University in the first and second year of study consecutively; 2) determining the level of the adaptation of students of Novosibirsk State Pedagogical University in the educational environment of the university in the first and second year of study consecutively; 3) conducting a comparative analysis of the data on personal safety strategies and the level of the adaptation of students; 4) conducting a comparative analysis of the results of the study in the first and second year of study; 5) conducting a correlation analysis.Results. In the first year, the low level of adaptation was accompanied by the choice of avoidance strategy as a strategy for the personal security of the students. With the increase in the level of adaptation in the educational environment, there is a change in the choice of personal security strategies with the predominance of the action strategy and the negotiation strategy.Discussion. Within the framework of the study, it was found that security strategies change with the growth of the level of adaptation. Prospects for the study of the relationship between the level of adaptation in the educational environment of the higher education institution and the choice of personal safety strategies of students are associated with further study of the direction of this relationship in order to support students in the process of adaptation or in the choice of more productive strategies of personal safety.

QTc dispersion as a predictor of coronary artery disease severity in Bangladeshi patients with chronic coronary syndromes

Background: Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a leading global and national health burden. Accurate assessment of CAD severity is crucial for effective management. QTc dispersion, a simple electrocardiographic parameter, has been explored as a potential predictor of CAD. This study aimed to evaluate the association between QTc dispersion and coronary angiographic severity in Bangladeshi patients with chronic coronary syndromes (CCS). Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 92 CCS patients undergoing coronary angiography at Sir Salimullah Medical College Mitford Hospital, Dhaka, from November 2020 to October 2021. Patients were divided into two groups based on QTc dispersion (≥50 ms or <50 ms). Coronary angiographic severity was assessed using the Gensini score. Results: Patients with increased QTc dispersion (Group B) had a significantly higher mean age, were predominantly male, and exhibited significantly higher Gensini scores compared to those with normal QTc dispersion (Group A). A strong positive correlation was observed between QTc dispersion and Gensini score (r=0.742, p<0.001). Conclusion: Our findings suggest that QTc dispersion is a significant predictor of CAD severity in Bangladeshi patients with CCS. Incorporating QTc dispersion into routine clinical practice may aid in risk stratification and the development of personalized treatment strategies for these patients.

Integrated single-cell and bulk RNA-seq analysis identifies a prognostic T-cell signature in colorectal cancer

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a major contributor to global morbidity and mortality, necessitating more effective therapeutic approaches. T cells, prominent in the tumor microenvironment, exert a crucial role in modulating immunotherapeutic responses and clinical outcomes in CRC. This study introduces a pioneering method for characterizing the CRC immune microenvironment using single-cell sequencing data. Unlike previous approaches, which focused on individual T-cell signature genes, we utilized overall infiltration levels of colorectal cancer signature T-cells. Through weighted gene co-expression network analysis, Lasso regression, and StepCox analysis, we developed a prognostic risk model, TRGS (T-cell related genes signatures), based on six T cell-related genes. Multivariate Cox analysis identified TRGS as an independent prognostic factor for CRC, showcasing its superior predictive efficacy compared to existing immune-related prognostic models. Immunoreactivity analysis revealed higher Immunophenoscore and lower Tumor Immune Dysfunction and Exclusion scores in the low-risk group, indicating potential responsiveness to immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy. Additionally, patients in the low-risk group demonstrated heightened sensitivity to 5-fluorouracil-based chemotherapy regimens. In summary, TRGS emerges as a standalone prognostic biomarker for CRC, offering insights to optimize patient responses to immunotherapy and chemotherapy, thereby laying the groundwork for personalized tumor management strategies.

Essential cancer protein identification using graph-based random walk with restart

Protein-protein interaction (PPI) network analysis holds significant promise for cancer diagnosis and drug target identification. This paper introduces a novel random walk-based method called essential cancer protein identification using graph-based random walk with restart (EPI-GBRWR) to address this gap. This proposed method incorporates local and global topological features of proteins, enhancing the accuracy of essential protein identification in PPI networks. Starting with meticulous preprocessing of cancer gene datasets from NCBI, including breast, lung, colorectal, and ovarian cancers, and identifying a core set of common genes. The proposed method constructs PPI networks to capture complex protein interactions from these common cancer genes. Topological analysis, including a centrality measures matrix, is generated to perform the analysis to identify essential nodes. The study revealed that 40 essential proteins among breast, colorectal, lung and ovarian cancer showcase the potency of integrative methodologies in unravelling cancer complexity, signalling a transformative era in cancer research and treatment. The strength of the findings from the study has direct clinical relevance in cancer diseases. It contributes to the field of precision medicine to guide personalized treatment strategies.

DrugFormer: Graph-Enhanced Language Model to Predict Drug Sensitivity.

Drug resistance poses a crucial challenge in healthcare, with response rates to chemotherapy and targeted therapy remaining low. Individual patient's resistance is exacerbated by the intricate heterogeneity of tumor cells, presenting significant obstacles to effective treatment. To address this challenge, DrugFormer, a novel graph-augmented large language model designed to predict drug resistance at single-cell level is proposed. DrugFormer integrates both serialized gene tokens and gene-based knowledge graphs for the accurate predictions of drug response. After training on comprehensive single-cell data with drug response information, DrugFormer model presents outperformance, with higher F1, precision, and recall in predicting drug response. Based on the scRNA-seq data from refractory multiple myeloma (MM) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients, DrugFormer demonstrates high efficacy in identifying resistant cells and uncovering underlying molecular mechanisms. Through pseudotime trajectory analysisunique drug-resistant cellular states associated with poor patient outcomes are revealed. Furthermore, DrugFormer identifies potential therapeutic targets, such as COX8A, for overcoming drug resistance across different cancer types. In conclusion, DrugFormer represents a significant advancement in the field of drug resistance prediction, offering a powerful tool for unraveling the heterogeneity of cellular response to drugs and guiding personalized treatment strategies.

OVERCOMING THE ARCHITECTURAL AND CONSTRUCTION MANAGER’S PROFESSIONAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL ACADEMICISM TOWARDS CLIENTS: PROBLEMS AND SOLUTIONS

The study is devoted to the problem of the overcoming of the professional and psychological academicism of the manager of the architecture and construction industry when dealing with clients. The term “manager’s psychological academicism” is defined as a manager’s readiness and competence in the field of interaction with clients and partners, combining professional management aspects with psychological knowledge and skills. The authors of the study stress that in order to overcome the psychological academicism of a manager, it is necessary to have an understanding of the psychological characteristics of clients, to be able to perceive their needs and expectations, and to adapt personal communication strategies in accordance with clients’ requirements. Particular attention is given to the ability to listen, understand and communicate effectively with clients, as well as building trust and positive relationships with them. In addressing the issue of psychological academicism, the key aspects of emotional control and emotional intelligence are discussed. The paper also highlights the importance of negotiation skills and adaptation to clients’ cultural characteristics and values for successful co-operation. Thus, the key to successful collaboration and achievement of business goals is the development of psychological academicism in the interaction of the architect and construction manager with the client. Recommendations for overcoming psychological academicism will help managers improve service quality, build trust and achieve success in their work, such as developing empathy, communication skills, cultural awareness, conflict management and building positive relationships. This approach will contribute to the creation of a positive working environment, the promotion of charismatic leadership and the increase in the effectiveness of projects in the architecture and construction industry. To sum up, overcoming psychological academicism is an important component of successful leading and working in a manager’s professional life. Overcoming psychological academicism will contribute to the successful implementation of projects and improve client relations, which will help to strengthen the market position and develop the business.

Obstructive sleep apnea -related hypertension: a review of the literature and clinical management strategy.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) and hypertension have a high rate of co-occurrence, with OSA being a causative factor for hypertension. Sympathetic activity due to intermittent hypoxia and/or fragmented sleep is the most important mechanisms triggering the elevation in blood pressure in OSA. OSA-related hypertension is characterized by resistant hypertension, nocturnal hypertension, abnormal blood pressure variability, and vascular remodeling. In particular, the prevalence of OSA is high in patients with resistant hypertension, and the mechanism proposed includes vascular remodeling due to the exacerbation of arterial stiffness by OSA. Continuous positive airway pressure therapy is effective at lowering blood pressure, however, the magnitude of the decrease in blood pressure is relatively modest, therefore, patients often need to also take antihypertensive medications to achieve optimal blood pressure control. Antihypertensive medications targeting sympathetic pathways or the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system have theoretical potential in OSA-related hypertension, Therefore, beta-blockers and renin-angiotensin system inhibitors may be effective in the management of OSA-related hypertension, but current evidence is limited. The characteristics of OSA-related hypertension, such as nocturnal hypertension and obesity-related hypertension, suggests potential for angiotensin receptor-neprilysin inhibitor (ARNI), sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide receptor/ glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (GIP/GLP-1 RA). Recently, OSA has been considered to be caused not only by upper airway anatomy but also by several non-anatomic mechanisms, such as responsiveness of the upper airway response, ventilatory control instability, and reduced sleep arousal threshold. Elucidating the phenotypic mechanisms of OSA may potentially advance more personalized hypertension treatment strategies in the future. Clinical characteristics and management strategy of OSA-related hypertension. OSA obstructive sleep apnea, BP blood pressure, ABPM ambulatory blood pressure monitoring, CPAP continuous positive airway pressure, LVH left ventricular hypertrophy, ARB: angiotensin II receptor blocker, SGLT2i Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors, ARNI angiotensin receptor-neprilysin inhibitor, CCB calcium channel blocker, GIP/GLP-1 RA glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide receptor and glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist.

Single-cell RNA Sequencing Analysis Reveals Cancer-associated Fibroblast Signature for Prediction of Clinical Outcomes and Immunotherapy in Gastric Cancer.

Gastric cancer (GC) is a significant worldwide health concern and is a leading cause of cancer-related mortality. Immunotherapy has arisen as a promising strategy to stimulate the patient's immune system in combating cancer cells. Nevertheless, the effectiveness of immunotherapy in individuals with gastric cancer (GC) is not yet optimal. Thus, it is crucial to discover biomarkers capable appof predicting the advantages of immunotherapy for tailored treatment. The tumor microenvironment (TME) and its constituents, including cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), exert a substantial influence on immune responses and treatment outcomes. In this investigation, we utilized single-cell RNA sequencing to profile CAFs in GC and established a scoring method, referred to as the CAF score (CAFS), for the prediction of patient prognosis and response to immunotherapy. Through our analysis, we successfully identified distinct subgroups within CAFs based on CAF score (CAFS), namely CAFS-high and CAFS-low subgroups. Notably, we noted that individuals within the CAFS-high subgroup experienced a lessF favorable prognosis and displayed diminished responsiveness to immunotherapy in contrast to the CAFS low subgroup. Furthermore, we analyzed the mutation and immune characteristics of these subgroups, identifying differentially mutated genes and immune cell compositions. We established that CAFS could forecast treatment advantages in patients with gastric cancer, both for chemotherapy and immunotherapy. Its efficacy was additionally confirmed in contrast to other biomarkers, including Tumor Immune Dysfunction and Exclusion (TIDE) and Immunophenotypic Score (IPS). These findings emphasize the clinical relevance and potential utility of CAFS in guiding personalized treatment strategies for gastric cancer.

Priapism Presentations in a Saudi Arabian Emergency Department: A Retrospective Study at a Tertiary Care Hospital.

To examine the distribution, clinical characteristics, and management of priapism in a Saudi Arabian tertiary care setting to provide a regional perspective. This retrospective chart review included 29 male patients presenting with priapism at a tertiary care hospital in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from January 2011 to June 2023. Data were collected on patient demographics, clinical presentation, treatment modalities, and outcomes. The study found recurrent episodes of priapism in many patients, with a significant number associated with hematological diseases, notably sickle cell disease. Most treatments involved non-surgical methods. A notable finding was the correlation between the duration of priapism episodes and the likelihood of hospital admissions, suggesting that prolonged episodes often required more extensive medical attention. Priapism often presents as a chronic and recurrent condition requiring personalized management strategies. This study emphasizes the importance of recognizing regional occurrence patterns to enhance the management of priapism and suggests a need for further research in regions where this condition is less common.

Advances in Intelligent Sports Based on Triboelectric Nanogenerators

In the realm of intelligent sports, the integration of triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) marks a transformative approach toward energy sustainability and more advanced athletic monitoring. By leveraging the principle of triboelectricity, TENGs ingeniously convert mechanical energy from athletes’ movements into electrical energy, which offers a green and efficient power solution for wearable technology. This paper presents an innovative study on the application of TENG technology in sports science, with the results illustrating the potential utility of TENGs in revolutionizing the way we monitor, analyze, and enhance athletic performance. Through the development of self-powered wearables and equipment, TENGs facilitate real-time data collection on physiological and biomechanical parameters, ultimately enabling personalized training adjustments and injury prevention strategies. Our findings underscore the dual benefit of TENGs in promoting environmental sustainability by reducing the overall reliance on traditional energy sources and growing the capabilities of intelligent sports systems. This research contributes to the burgeoning field of nano-energy sports applications while setting the stage for future explorations into the optimization of TENG integration in athletic performance enhancement. Finally, the paper concludes by discussing remaining challenges in this area and opportunities for further research.

Explainable Machine Learning Models for Predicting Recurrence in Differentiated Thyroid Cancer

Aim: Differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) is a common type of cancer that originates in the thyroid gland. This study aimed to predict the recurrence of differentiated thyroid carcinoma, in patient with well-DTC, using explainable machine learning (XAI) models. Material and Methods: The study utilized a dataset from the UCI Machine Learning Repository, which included 383 patients and 13 candidate predictors. After a variable selection process using distance correlation, only four predictors (Response, Risk, T, and N) were retained for model building. Two XAI models, Fast Interpretable Greedy-Tree Sums (FIGS) and Explainable Boosting Machines (EBM), were employed. Results: The EBM model slightly outperformed the FIGS model in terms of accuracy. The study found that the most influential predictors of Well-DTC recurrence were the response to DTC treatment, risk status according to the American Thyroid Association classification, tumor size (T), and lymph node metastasis (N). Conclusion: In conclusion, this study successfully identified key risk factors for DTC recurrence using XAI models, providing interpretable insights for clinical decision-making and potential for personalized treatment strategies.

Analysis of Expression and Regulation of AKR1C2 in HPV-Positive and -Negative Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma (HNSCC), particularly Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma (OPSCC), is a major global health challenge due to its increasing incidence and high mortality rate. This study investigates the role of aldo-keto reductase 1C2 (AKR1C2) in OPSCC, focusing on its expression, correlation with Human Papillomavirus (HPV) status, oxidative stress status, and clinical outcomes, with an emphasis on sex-specific differences. We analyzed AKR1C2 expression using immunohistochemistry in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue samples from 51 OPSCC patients. Additionally, we performed RT-qPCR in cultured HPV16-E6*I and HPV16-E6 overexpressing HEK293 cell lines (p53WT). Statistical analyses were performed to assess the correlation between AKR1C2 expression and patient data. Our results indicate a significant association between increased AKR1C2 expression and higher AJCC classification (p = 0.009) as well as positive HPV status (p = 0.008). Prognostic implications of AKR1C2 varied by sex, whereby female patients with high AKR1C2 expression had better overall survival, whereas male patients exhibited poorer outcomes. Additionally, AKR1C2 expression was linked to HPV status, suggesting a potential HPV-specific regulatory mechanism. These findings underscore the complex interplay among AKR1C2, HPV, and patient sex, highlighting the need for personalized treatment strategies for OPSCC. Targeted inhibition of AKR1C2, considering sex-specific differences, may enhance therapeutic outcomes. Future research should investigate these mechanisms to enhance treatment efficacy.

Monitoring pediatric CNS non-germinomatous germ cell tumors via cerebrospinal fluid circulating tumor DNA.

Accurate molecular and clinical stratification of patients with central nervous system (CNS) non-germinomatous germ cell tumors (NGGCTs) remains challenging, impeding the development of personalized therapeutic approaches. Herein, we investigated the translational significance of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) in pediatric NGGCTs to identify characteristic features of CNS NGGCTs and to identify a subset of patients for whom the presence of residual disease is a risk factor and an indicator of shorter progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). Medical records of patients with CNS NGGCTs between January 1, 2018 and December 31, 2022 were reviewed retrospectively. The cohort consisted of 11 male and six female patients. Tumor markers were elevated in four of the five people who underwent surgery. The remaining 12 patients were diagnosed with malignant NGGCTs according to elevated tumor markers. Among them, ctDNA before chemotherapy as well as ctDNA clearance were consistently associated with PFS and OS (p<.05). By setting a ctDNA positivity threshold of 6%, patients with high ctDNA (above the threshold) levels, which had limitation due to the selection based on optimal statistic from the survival analysis, had significantly inferior 5-year PFS and OS compared to those with low levels (below the threshold). ctDNA or ctDNA clearance combined with the presence of residual disease predicted significantly worse OS and PFS (p<.05). CSF ctDNA might allow the study of genomic evolution and the characterization of tumors in pediatric NGGCTs. CSF ctDNA analysis may facilitate the clinical management of pediatric NGGCT patients, and aid in designing personalized therapeutic strategies.

Prediction of clinical prognosis and drug sensitivity in hepatocellular carcinoma through the combination of multiple cell death pathways.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the sixth most common malignant tumor, highlighting a significant need for reliable predictive models to assess clinical prognosis, disease progression, and drug sensitivity. Recent studies have highlighted the critical role of various programmed cell death pathways, including apoptosis, necroptosis, pyroptosis, ferroptosis, cuproptosis, entotic cell death, NETotic cell death, parthanatos, lysosome-dependent cell death, autophagy-dependent cell death, alkaliptosis, oxeiptosis, and disulfidptosis, in tumor development. Therefore, by investigating these pathways, we aimed to develop a predictive model for HCC prognosis and drug sensitivity. We analyzed transcriptome, single-cell transcriptome, genomic, and clinical information using data from the TCGA-LIHC, GSE14520, GSE45436, and GSE166635 datasets. Machine learning algorithms were used to establish a cell death index (CDI) with seven gene signatures, which was validated across three independent datasets, showing that high CDI correlates with poorer prognosis. Unsupervised clustering revealed three molecular subtypes of HCC with distinct biological processes. Furthermore, a nomogram integrating CDI and clinical information demonstrated good predictive performance. CDI was associated with immune checkpoint genes and tumor microenvironment components using single-cell transcriptome analysis. Drug sensitivity analysis indicated that patients with high CDI may be resistant to oxaliplatin and cisplatin but sensitive to axitinib and sorafenib. In summary, our model offers a precise prediction of clinical outcomes and drug sensitivity for patients with HCC, providing valuable insights for personalized treatment strategies.

Plasma ofCS-modified CD44 predicts the survival of patients with lung cancer.

Plasma levels of oncofetal chondroitin sulfate (ofCS)-modified CD44 have emerged as a promising biomarker for multi-cancer detection. Here, we explored its potential to predict the survival of patients with lung cancer. A prospective observational cohort was conducted involving 274 newly diagnosed patients with lung cancer at the Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center from 2013 to 2015. The plasma levels of ofCS-modified CD44 were measured, and Cox regression analysis was performed to assess the association between plasma-modified CD44 levels and overall survival (OS) as well as other prognostic outcomes. Prognostic nomograms were constructed based on plasma ofCS-modified CD44 levels to predict survival outcomes for patients with lung cancer. Patients with high expression ofCS-modified CD44 exhibited significantly worse outcomes in terms of OS (HR = 1.61, 95%CI = 1.13-2.29, p = 0.009) and progression-free survival (PFS). These findings were consistent across various analyses. The concordance index of the prognostic nomogram for predicting OS in both the training set and validation set were 0.723 and 0.737, respectively. Additionally, time-dependent receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves showed that the nomogram could serve as a useful tool for predicting OS in patients with lung cancer. Plasma ofCS-modified CD44 may serve as an independent prognosis marker for patients with lung cancer. Further validation of its predictive value could enhance prognostic assessment and guide personalized treatment strategies for patients with lung cancer.

Co-designing with high-performance athletes and stakeholders: The AHEAD intervention for personal development

The overall purpose of this study was to describe the development of a personal development intervention for high-performance sport. More specifically, the primary objective of the study was to present the results of the co-design phases of the intervention development process. The academic research team initiated the process of intervention development, informed by a grounded theory and using a logic model and the Template for Intervention Description and Replication checklist for Population Health and Policy (TIDieR-PHP). During the co-design phases of intervention development, 28 participants (15 athletes, 8 coaches, 5 technical leaders) were engaged via focus groups or individual interviews. We used qualitative description methodology and analyzed data using an abductive content analysis procedure. Participant engagement helped inform the development of the intervention logo, activity bank, delivery format, scheduling, and individualized approach. By the end of the development phase, the intervention comprised five personal development strategies: self-awareness, goal setting, reflecting, perspective-taking, and evaluating.

Beyond Distracted Eating: Cognitive Distraction Downregulates Odor Pleasantness and Interacts with Weight Status.

Considering the widespread issue of distracted eating, our study investigates how cognitive distraction influences the sensory perception of food-related odors among individuals with varying weight statuses. We conducted an exploratory, randomized, and cross-sectional experimental study, using the Tetris game to simulate real-life cognitive distraction, incorporating two distraction levels (low and high) and presenting five distinct odors. A total of 59 participants, categorized into a lean (n = 30) and overweight/obese group (n = 29) based on their body mass index (BMI), received odor stimuli while playing Tetris at low and high difficulty, corresponding to low and high distraction levels, respectively. Participants subsequently rated odor intensity and pleasantness under the two cognitive distraction conditions. Respiratory movements were monitored to ensure accurate olfactory stimulation. Our findings revealed no significant difference in odor intensity ratings across distraction levels (p = 0.903). However, there was a significant reduction in odor pleasantness under high cognitive distraction (p = 0.007), more pronounced in lean participants compared to those with an overweight status (p = 0.035). Additionally, an interaction between gender and cognitive distraction effects was observed in odor pleasantness perception. The differential effects of distraction across weight-status groups and genders are discussed in the context of hedonic motivation and compensatory mechanisms. This study sheds light onto the sensory mechanisms underlying distracted eating and could inform more personalized strategies for promoting healthier eating habits in a world dominated by distractions.

New insights into PSAT1 as a therapeutic target for myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS).

The metabolomic landscape in myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) is highly deregulated and presents promising avenues for understanding disease pathogenesis and potential molecular dependencies. Here, we evaluated the transcriptomic landscape in MDS in multiple independent studies focusing more on metabolomics pathways. Identifying molecular dependencies will pave the way for a more precise disease stratification as well as the development of novel personalized treatment strategies. The study adopted a retrospective, cross-sectional approach, utilizing transcriptomic data from multiple MDS studies. The transcriptomic data were then subjected to comprehensive analyses, including differential gene expression, gene enrichment analysis, gene co-expression analysis, protein-protein interaction analyses, and survival analyses. PSAT1 showed a significant upregulation profile in MDS patients. This observed upregulation is correlated with the deregulation of immune-related pathways in MDS samples. This observation suggests a novel role for PSAT1 in immune modulation and potentially in augmenting immune evasion, which may lead to poor prognosis. This was evident in other tumors in the TCGA database, where cancer patients with high PSAT1 expression have a shorter overall survival. This study unveils a novel potential therapeutic avenue in MDS. Identifying the role of the PSAT1 gene sheds light on the disease's intricate biology, highlighting the ongoing cross-talk between metabolism and immune regulation, which may pave the way for innovative treatment modalities.