Preliminary Evidence Research Articles

Culturally compelled coping and depressive symptoms in Black Americans: Examining the role of psychophysiological regulatory capacity.

Given the culture of racism in the United States, Black Americans are often required to use culturally compelled coping (CCC) styles, such as emotional and behavioral restraint and vigilance. Although CCC is adaptive in the face of pervasive racialized stress, it may still negatively impact mental health outcomes, like depression. Studies have found that Black Americans exhibit higher resting heart rate variability (HRV)-a trait-level biomarker of self-regulatory capacity-than White Americans (Hill et al., 2015), which may reflect the additional resources that Black Americans need to regulate given experiences of racialized stress. Theoretically, this should protect against the development of mental health issues, like depression, given that lower resting HRV is typically observed in psychopathology (Beauchaine & Thayer, 2015). However, the literature is mixed on the buffering effects of greater resting HRV on psychopathology for Black Americans (Keen et al., 2015). Thus, we aimed to understand, with data collected from Black Americans between 2015 and 2018, how individual differences in resting HRV and the use of CCC, particularly restraint and vigilance, related to self-reported depressive symptoms. We found that at higher levels of resting HRV, greater use of CCC was associated with higher depressive symptoms. This suggests that CCC strategies may be detrimental to emotional well-being for those who have the capacity-as indexed by higher resting HRV-to engage in these strategies. Hence, the present study provides preliminary evidence that the ways Black Americans are often compelled to cope with racialized stress may be a path to greater depressive symptoms. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Comparison of survival benefit and safety between surgery following conversion therapy versus surgery alone in patients with surgically resectable hepatocellular carcinoma at CNLC IIb/IIIa stage: a propensity score matching study.

The objective of this study is to evaluate and compare the survival benefit and safety of surgery following conversion therapy versus surgery alone in patients diagnosed with surgically resectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) at China Liver Cancer Staging (CNLC) IIb/IIIa stage. A total of 95 patients diagnosed with surgically resectable CNLC IIb/IIIa HCC were retrospectively enrolled in our study from November 2018 to December 2022. Among them, 30 patients underwent conversion therapy followed by hepatectomy, while the remaining 65 received surgery alone. The primary endpoint was recurrence-free survival (RFS). Propensity score matching was employed to minimize bias in the retrospective analysis. Compared to the surgery alone group, the conversion therapy group demonstrated a significantly prolonged median RFS (17.1 vs. 7.0 months; P =0.014), a reduced incidence of microvascular invasion (MVI, 23.3 vs. 81.5%; P <0.001), and a comparable rate of achieving Textbook Outcome in Liver Surgery (TOLS, 83.3 vs. 76.9%; P =0.476). Multivariate analysis indicated that conversion therapy was independently associated with improved RFS after hepatectomy (HR=0.511, P =0.027). The same conclusions were obtained after propensity score matching. The findings of our study offer preliminary evidence that preoperative conversion therapy significantly prolongs RFS in patients with surgically resectable HCC at CNLC IIb/IIIa stage. Furthermore, combining conversion therapy and hepatectomy represents a relatively safe treatment strategy.

Network Pharmacological Analysis and Experimental Validation of the Effects of Silybin on Proliferation, Migration, and Immunotherapy of Papillary Thyroid Cancer.

The study aimed to use network pharmacology research and in vitro experiments to investigate the material basis and molecular mechanisms of silybin in the treatment of papillary thyroid carcinoma. Papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) has a decent prognosis; however, recurrence and metastasis are the leading causes of death in patients with PTC. A key research focus in thyroid cancer treatment is the inhibition of PTC proliferation, invasion, and migration. Silybin, the major active element in the traditional Chinese herb silymarin, has been used to treat a range of diseases, including cancer, but no study has been undertaken to determine whether it can help prevent PTC. In this study, we attempted to determine through network pharmacology and in vitro experiments if silybin inhibits the development of papillary thyroid cancer by inhibiting cell cycle and invasive migration. To predict the probable targets and underlying mechanisms of silybin against PTC, a network pharmacology research was performed. In vitro experiments were conducted to further evaluate silybin's anti-cancer properties and priority targets against PTC. The datasets revealed a total of 489 silybin targets acting on PTC, and functional enrichment analysis suggested that the target genes were enriched in functions and pathways related to PTC development, invasion, migration, and immunotherapy. By constructing these target PPI networks, the seven hub genes, fibronectin 1 (FN1), tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases 1 (TIMP1), N-cadherin (CDH2), collagen type III alpha 1 chain (COL3A1), cyclin D1 (CCND1), AP-1 transcription factor subunit (JUN), and hepatocyte growth factor receptor (MET) were found. These hub genes were determined to be highly linked to a worse clinicopathological form, a higher risk of metastatic recurrence, and a worse prognosis of PTC. The common immunological checkpoint gene expression levels were positively correlated with the expression levels of the hub genes. Silybin decreased the proliferative and metastatic capacity of PTC cells, according to in vitro investigations. When PTC was treated with silybin, the FN1/AKT signaling pathway was blocked, CCND1 expression was reduced, and CDH2, Vimentin, Snail, Slug and PD-L1 expressions were dramatically reduced, while E-cadherin expression was significantly elevated. These findings provide preliminary evidence that silybin inhibits PTC cell proliferation, metastasis, and invasion by altering the FN1/AKT signaling pathway and inhibiting the EMT process. Silybin can reverse immunosuppression in papillary thyroid cancer by affecting immunological checkpoint gene expression levels. These studies provide a theoretical and experimental scientific basis for the potential anticancer effects of silybin on PTC.

Community-based exercise program, self-reported health-related symptoms, and quality of life in persons with traumatic brain injury 45 + years old.

Individuals with moderate to severe traumatic brain injury (msTBI) have reported a lack of motivation, lack of time, and fatigue as perceived barriers to exercise. To evaluate the effects of an exercise program on self-reported health-related symptoms and quality of life in persons 45-years and older with msTBI. Post-hoc analysis of a prospective community-based 12-week exercise program of 20 adults, age 45-80 years, with msTBI. Ten were in aerobic exercise training (AET) program and 10 in a stretching and toning (SAT) program. The AET group was instructed to exercise based on their estimated maximal heart rate (HR) for 150 minutes weekly. The SAT group was to stretch for the same target time without significantly increasing HR or level of exertion. Outcome measures were Traumatic Brain Injury Quality of Life (TBI-QOL) for global, cognitive, emotional, and social health, Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) for depressive symptoms, and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) for sleep quality. AET was associated with improved self-reported cognitive health and sleep compared to SAT. Moderate to large, positive effect sizes were also observed in the AET group in the QOL categories of global, emotional, and social health, and depressive symptoms. This study offers preliminary evidence that AET may improve health-related QOL, especially for cognition and sleep, in middle-aged and older adults with msTBI.

Novel Performance Rating Instruments for Gynecological Procedures in Primary Care: A Pilot Study.

Improving training and confirming the acquisition of gynecological procedure skills for family physicians (FPs) is crucial for safe healthcare delivery. The objectives of this study were to (a) develop performance rating instruments for four gynecological procedures, and (b) pilot them to provide preliminary validity evidence using modern validity theory. Sixteen academic FPs and gynecologists participated in a modified Delphi technique to develop procedure-specific checklists (PSCs) for four procedures: intrauterine device insertion, endometrial biopsy, punch biopsy of the vulva, and routine pessary care. We modified a previously validated global rating scale (GRS) for ambulatory settings. Using prerecorded videos, 19 academic FPs piloted instruments to rate one first-year and one second-year family medicine resident's performance. They were blinded to the level of training. We compared the mean scores for PSCs and GRS for each procedure using paired samples t tests and Cohen'sdto estimate effect sizes. Consensus on items for the final PSCs was reached after two Delphi rounds. PSC and GRS scores were numerically higher for the second-year resident than the first-year resident for every procedure, with statistically significant differences for six of eight comparisons (P&lt;.05). All comparisons demonstrated large effect sizes (Cohen'sd&gt;0.8). Both instruments received high scores for ease of use by raters. We developed novel performance rating instruments for four gynecological procedures and provided preliminary validity evidence for their use for formative feedback in a simulation setting. This pilot study suggests that these instruments may facilitate the training and documentation of family medicine trainees' skills in gynecological procedures.

Improving maternal and neonatal outcomes for women with gestational diabetes through continuity of midwifery care: A cross-sectional study

ProblemGestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) is a complication of pregnancy which may exclude women from midwife-led models of care. BackgroundThere is a paucity of research evaluating the safety and feasibility of continuity of midwifery care (CoMC) for women with GDM. AimTo investigate the impact of CoMC on maternal and neonatal outcomes, for otherwise low-risk women with GDM. MethodsThis exploratory cross-sectional study observed maternal and neonatal outcomes including onset of labour, augmentation, labour analgesia, mode of birth, perineal trauma, gestation at birth, shoulder dystocia, infant birth weight, neonatal feeding at discharge. FindingsParticipants were 287 otherwise low-risk pregnant women, who developed GDM, and either received CoMC (n=36) or standard hospital maternity care (non-CoMC) (n=251). Women with GDM who received CoMC were significantly more likely to experience an spontaneous onset of labour (OR 6.3; 95% CI 2.7–14.5; p<.001), labour without an epidural (OR 4.2; 95% CI 2.0 – 9.2,<0.001) and exclusively breastfeed (OR 4.3; 95% CI 1.26 – 14.32; p=0.02). DiscussionReceiving CoMC may be a public health initiative which not only improves maternal and neonatal outcomes, but also long-term morbidity associated with GDM. ConclusionFindings provide preliminary evidence suggesting CoMC improves maternal and neonatal outcomes and is likely a safe and viable option for otherwise low-risk women with GDM. Larger studies are recommended to confirm findings and explore the full impact of CoMC for women with GDM.

Interpersonal sensitivity and response to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors in patients with acute major depressive disorder

BackgroundPatients with major depression often suffer from excessive interpersonal sensitivity, although it is not typically measured in antidepressant clinical trials. Preliminary evidence suggests selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors have the capacity to reduce interpersonal sensitivity. MethodsThis was a pooled analysis of data from 1709 patients in three randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials of fluoxetine and paroxetine for acute major depressive disorder. Depressive symptoms were assessed with the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale. A factor from the Symptom Checklist was used to assess interpersonal sensitivity. Our outcome of interest was change from baseline scores at the last assessment (up to 8 or 12 weeks, depending on the trial). ResultsBoth medications produced significantly greater reductions in interpersonal sensitivity relative to placebo. The effect of medication remained significant after controlling for depression improvement, which explained 18.5% of the variation in interpersonal sensitivity improvement among those treated with active medication. The effect of medication on depressive symptoms, relative to placebo, was not influenced by baseline interpersonal sensitivity. LimitationsThe outcome measured interpersonal sensitivity over the last week, and the results do not necessarily reflect changes in long-standing, trait-like patterns of interpersonal sensitivity. Only two medications were studied. ConclusionsSelective serotonin reuptake inhibitors are effective at treating interpersonal sensitivity in acutely depressed patients. This appears to be a unique drug effect that is not only the result of depression improvement. Future clinical trials might benefit from assessing interpersonal sensitivity more routinely.

Demystifying the 'hidden curriculum' for minoritized graduate students.

Graduate programs in the biomedical sciences dedicate considerable resources to recruiting students from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups. However, students from these minoritized groups have decreased access to the 'hidden curriculum' that must be navigated in order to be successful in graduate school. Here, we describe a student-led initiative at Johns Hopkins University, the Hidden Curriculum Symposium, that is organized to help prepare new students from underrepresented groups for graduate school. Preliminary evidence from surveys suggests that the initiative does increase the preparedness of minoritized students, and we believe this approach could also prove useful at other academic institutions.

Dissociable neural correlates of trait and ability emotional intelligence: a resting-state fMRI study.

Emotional intelligence (EI) is one's ability to monitor one's own and other's emotions and the use of emotional information to enhance thought and action. Previous behavioral studies have shown that EI is separable into trait EI and ability EI, which are known to have distinct characteristics at the behavioral level. A relevant and unanswered question is whether both forms of EI have a dissociable neural basis. Previous studies have individually explored the neural underpinnings of trait EI and ability EI, but there has been no direct comparison of the neural mechanisms underlying these two types of emotional intelligence. The present study addresses this question by using resting-state fMRI to examine the correlational pattern between the regional amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations (ALFF) of the brain and individuals' trait EI and ability EI scores. We found that trait EI scores were positively correlated with the ALFF in the bilateral superior temporal gyrus, and negatively correlated with the ALFF in the ventral medial prefrontal cortex. In contrast, ability EI scores were positively correlated with the ALFF in the insula. Taken together, these results provide preliminary evidence of dissociable neural substrates between trait EI and ability EI.

A preliminary investigation of epigenome-wide DNA methylation and temperament during infancy.

This study provides preliminary evidence for an epigenetic architecture of infant temperament. At 12 months of age, blood was collected and assayed for DNA methylation and maternally reported infant temperament was assessed using the Infant Behavior Questionnaire in 67 mother-infant dyads. Epigenome-wide analyses showed that the higher order temperament dimensions Surgency and Negative Affect were associated with DNA methylation. The epigenetic signatures of Surgency and Negative Affect were situated at genes involved in synaptic signaling and plasticity. Although replication is required, these results are consistent with a biologically based model of temperament, create new avenues for hypothesis-driven research into epigenetic pathways that underlie individual differences in temperament, and demonstrate that infant temperament has a widespread epigenetic signature in the methylome.

Monoclonal Antibodies Targeting CGRP to Treat Vestibular Migraine: A Rapid Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

AbstractVestibular migraine (VM), a subtype of migraine characterized by vestibular symptoms, poses a significant diagnostic and therapeutic challenge. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of monoclonal antibodies targeting Calcitonin Gene Related Peptide (CGRP) in the treatment of VM. Therefore, we conducted a rapid systematic review and meta-analysis following PRISMA and Cochrane guidelines. A search of databases (PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane and Google Scholar) was performed in October 2023. Inclusion criteria required original research articles focusing on patients diagnosed with VM and utilizing CGRP-targeting monoclonal antibodies. We performed qualitative assessments of study design, patient characteristics, and outcomes and, for studies with comparable outcome measures, a meta-analysis was conducted. Our search yielded four relevant studies, including cohort studies and a case report, totaling 99 patients. Proper vestibular instrumental tests were employed in half of the studies. Overall, the included studies reported significant improvements in VM symptoms. Our quantitative analysis, focused on migraine symptoms, demonstrated a substantial reduction in Monthly Days with Migraine at 6 months following treatment. No severe adverse drug reactions were reported. In conclusion, this rapid systematic review and meta-analysis provide preliminary evidence for the efficacy of CGRP-targeting monoclonal antibodies in treating Vestibular Migraine. However, the absence of randomized controlled trials and variations in study designs and diagnostic criteria introduce some limitations. Further research is needed, including controlled trials, to establish a more robust evidence base. Nonetheless, this treatment approach offers hope for the effective management of VM, potentially enhancing the well-being of affected individuals and reducing their associated disability.

Anosognosia in Alzheimer's Pathology: Validation of a New Measure.

Two studies were performed to validate a brief measure of cognitive insight and compare it to an empirical model - the Cognitive Awareness Model (CAM). A pilot study included 31 (52% male; Mage = 69.42) patients from an outpatient neuropsychological assessment clinic. Seven patients were diagnosed with likely Alzheimer's dementia (AD), 15 mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and 9 no diagnosis (i.e., cognitively normal; CN). The Cognitive Coding Form (CCF) and several other measures were administered. Study 2 entailed archival data extraction of 240 patients (80 CN, 80 MCI, and 80 AD; 53.3% female; Mage = 72.8) to examine whether the CCF predicts memory (Wechsler Memory Scale - IV) and executive functioning (Trail-Making Test B). The pilot study found preliminary evidence of convergent and discriminant validity for the 8-item CCF. Study 2 confirmed that both patient-reported cognitive concerns (F(2,237) = 10.40, p < .001, ω2 = .07, power = .99) and, more strongly, CCF informant-patient discrepancy scores (F(2,237) = 24.52, p < .001, ω2 = .16, power = .99) can distinguish CNs from those with MCI and AD. A regression indicated that depression (5.5%; β = -.38, p < .001) and TMT-B (13%; β = -.43, p < .001), together accounted for 18.5% of the variance in insight (R2 = .19, F(2,219) = 26.10, p < .001), supporting the CAM. These studies establish an efficient measure of insight with high clinical utility and inform the literature on the role of insight in predicting performance in those with Alzheimer's pathology.

A CFD-based framework to evaluate surgical alternatives in cerebral aneurysms

ABSTRACT Computational Fluid Dynamic (CFD) simulations on patient-specific geometries may guide the choice between alternative surgical interventions, especially in the case on non-conventional treatments. We propose and formalise a CFD-based framework to evaluate alternative surgical interventions. It provides surgeons with the CFD analyses of different surgical options, so that they may decide the best strategy based on quantitative haemodynamic parameters for each surgical alternative. The proposed framework is largely automatised and, when it necessarily requires the intervention of a human operator due to the patient-specific nature, this intervention is well-formalised to reduce inter-operator variability and guarantee reproducibility. To provide preliminary evidence on the effectiveness of the framework, we present its application to complex Intracranial Aneurysms (IAs), which involve less than 5% of brain aneurysms, but are usually at a high risk of rupture and often show unexpected response to therapy. Complex IAs include aneurysms that cannot be treated with conventional therapies, such as neck clipping, sac coiling or stenting, while instead their treatment requires the sacrifice of the parent artery. In particular, we refer to a giant cavernous sinus aneurysm inside the left internal carotid artery. Results show the ability of the framework to provide haemodynamic quantitative evaluations, which can be useful additional information for the neurosurgeon towards optimal surgical planning.

A new method to identify key match-play behaviours of young soccer players: Development of the Hull Soccer Behavioural Scoring Tool.

The aim of this research was to assess the validity and reliability of a newly developed scoring tool, designed for monitoring youth soccer players during match-play performance to support coaches/scouts with the talent identification process. The method used to design the Hull Soccer Behavioural Scoring Tool comprised of a five-stage process of (i) conducting an initial literature review to establish content validity (ii) gaining content validity through a cross sectional online survey (iii) establishing face validity via expert coach feedback (iv) conducting inter-rater reliability tests and (v) intra-rater reliability tests. In stage two, twenty-two soccer academy practitioners completed an online survey, which revealed that player behaviours such as resilience, competitiveness, and decision making were all valued as the most important behavioural characteristics by practitioners (90.9%), whilst X-factor was valued as least important by a significant amount (27.2%). Stages three to five of the testing procedure included a sample of four academy coaches not involved in the preceding stage. Twenty male collegiate soccer players (under-16 to under-18) involved in the study took part in four versus four small-sided games (SSG) in a 'round-robin' tournament across three weeks which accumulated 14 SSG's, 100-140 minutes of playing time and 70-98 individual player grades. Two of the four academy coaches watched the SSG's and used the Hull Soccer Behavioural Scoring Tool to assess live evidence of desirable player behaviours, which was subsequently followed by retrospective video analysis for intra-rater reliability testing. The remaining two academy coaches watched the same SSG retrospective video footage to test for inter-rater reliability. Reliability results revealed an acceptable level of agreement with scores between 81.25%-89.9% for inter-rater whilst intra-rater provided scores between 80.35%-99.4%. Preliminary evidence here suggests that the Hull Soccer Behavioural Scoring Tool is both a valid and reliable method to assess desirable player behaviours during talent identification processes. Thus, youth soccer practitioners and researchers should seek to test and further validate the tool in order to confirm its utility as a means of measuring behavioural characteristics of youth soccer players.

Prevalence of overweight and obesity, and associated risk factors in an axial spondyloarthritis cohort

Background. Overweight and obesity are more common in axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) cohorts than in the general population. The purpose of this study wase to assess the prevalence of overweight in patients with axSpA depending on sex and to identify axSpA-related factors, which are positively associated with body weight (BW). Materials and methods. Study design: a retrospective single-institution case series. Data source: medical records of patients with axSpA. Nutritional status was categorized by body mass index (BMI) according to WHO criteria. Results. The data of 142 patients with axSpA (78.2 % men) were analyzed. Weight was positively associated with: height (p &lt; 0.0001), BASMI ≥ 4 (p &lt; 0.0001), methotrexate treatment (p &lt; 0.000) and cumulative glucocorticoids (GCs) dose ≥ 1.45 g (p = 0.01), with the relative importance (RI) of each factor of 100, 59, 61, and 24.8 %. The strength of the association between BW and BASMI was attenuated under the influence of the following confounders: gender (23.7 %), age (20.7 %), height (12.9 %) and strengthened under by the influence of BASDAI ≥ 7 (by 13.7 %) and the duration of GCs therapy (by 11.1 %). Height was negatively associated with female gender (p &lt; 0.0001) and back pain intensity (p &lt; 0.04). The developed regression models for body weight and height explained, respectively, 57.8 and 54 % of the variations parameters of patients with axSpA. Conclusions. Prevalence of overweight in the study sample of Ukrainian axSpA patients is lower than in cohorts outside of Ukraine, but still significant positive association of BW with spinal mobility limitation, exposure to MTX and high cumulative dose of GCs provides preliminary evidence their role in pathological weight gain.

Implementing intensive comprehensive aphasia programs in Brazil: Challenges and solutions

ABSTRACT Aphasia, a communication disability prevalent among stroke survivors, significantly impacts psychosocial well-being and quality of life. Intensive Comprehensive Aphasia Programs (ICAPs) provide intensive and comprehensive treatment, incorporating individual and group therapy, patient and family education, and technology utilization. Despite positive outcomes, global implementation of ICAPs remains limited. In Brazil, preliminary evidence supports the development of intensive and comprehensive aphasia programs, such as the Brazilian Aphasia House—a program inspired by the successful Aphasia House model in the United States. The Brazilian Aphasia House offers personalized and intensive therapy in a simulated domestic environment, encompassing individual and group therapy sessions, and patient and family education, with the goal of enhancing functional communication skills and overall quality of life. Operating as a teaching clinic within a public university, it also serves as a training ground for future therapists to expand ICAP availability in Brazil. Challenges in implementing ICAPs in Brazil include socioeconomic barriers, limited public aphasia awareness, a shortage of specialized professionals, transportation, and session costs. Sustainable implementation requires committed leadership and financial resourcing, with involvement from public institutions and universities. By increasing awareness and nationwide implementation of ICAPs, access to aphasia rehabilitation services can be improved, potentially leading to better outcomes for individuals with aphasia and their caregivers. The Brazilian Aphasia House serves as an exemplar of an ICAP, offering intensive and personalized therapy to enhance communication abilities and promote social participation for people with aphasia.

Do native and non-native speakers make different judicial decisions?

Abstract Bilinguals experience diminished emotion when using their foreign compared with their native language. The diminished emotion has been shown to lead to more lenient moral evaluations in a foreign language. Here we show that non-native speakers of English are less sensitive to emotional mitigating circumstances of a crime than native speakers, presumably because of the diminished experience emotion. This can lead non-native speakers to provide harsher, rather than more lenient, evaluations. Native and non-native speakers of English recommended sentence duration for crimes committed because of mitigating emotional circumstances (e.g., fraud to pay spouse's medical treatment) or for selfish reasons (e.g., buying luxury goods). Native English speakers differentiated more between the two types of scenarios than non-native speakers did. The study thus provides preliminary evidence that processing information in a foreign language can influence decisions, and that the directionality of the effect depends on the role of emotion in the context.

Does Studying Philosophy Make People Better Thinkers?

Abstract Philosophers often claim that doing philosophy makes people better thinkers. But what evidence is there for this empirical claim? This paper reviews extant evidence and presents some novel findings. We discuss standardized testing scores, review research on Philosophy for Children and critical thinking skills among college students, and present new empirical findings. On average, philosophers are better at logical reasoning, more reflective, and more open-minded than non-philosophers. However, there is an absence of evidence for the claim that studying philosophy led to these differences. We present some preliminary and suggestive evidence that although some of these differences may be attributable to philosophical training, others appear to be selection effects. The key takeaway is that more data are needed. We conclude by urging philosophers and interdisciplinary collaborators to gather more data to test the claim that studying philosophy makes people better thinkers.

The effects of football juggling learning on executive function and brain functional connectivity.

This study aimed to explore the relationship between motor skill learning and executive function (EF), with an emphasis on the potential effects of football juggling learning. A randomized controlled trial involving 111 participants aged 17-19 years was conducted. Participants were randomly assigned to either the football juggling learning (FJL) group or a control group. The FJL group underwent 70 sessions of football juggling learning, while the control group engaged in their normal daily activities without any exercise intervention during the same time frame. Both groups were assessed for EF performance and underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scans before and after the experiment. The executive function test included three tasks, namely, inhibition, working memory, and shifting. The results showed significant improvement in inhibition and shifting in both groups, and the FJL group showed greater improvement in these aspects of EF compared to the control group. Additionally, in comparison to the control group, the FJL group exhibited increased functional connectivity within the frontal, temporal, and cerebellar regions from the pre-test to the post-test. Notably, enhanced functional connectivity between the right superior temporal gyrus (posterior division) and left cerebellum 6 was identified in the FJL group and was associated with improved EF performance induced by football juggling learning. These findings shed light on the potential causal relationship between motor skill learning, EF, and brain plasticity. Importantly, our study provides preliminary evidence supporting the use of motor skill learning, such as football juggling, as a potential avenue for cognitive enhancement.

Identification of a Novel Peptide with Alcohol Dehydrogenase Activating Ability from Ethanol-Induced Lactococcus lactis: A Combined In Silico Prediction and In Vivo Validation.

Alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) is a crucial rate-limiting enzyme in alcohol metabolism. Our previous research found that ethanol-induced intracellular extracts of Lactococcus lactis (L. lactis) could enhance alcohol metabolism in mice, but the responsible compounds remain unidentified. The study aimed to screen potential ADH-activating peptides from ethanol-induced L. lactis using virtual screening and molecular docking calculation. Among them, the pentapeptide FAPEG might bind to ADH through hydrophobic interaction and hydrogen bonds, then enhancing ADH activity. Spectroscopy analysis further investigated the peptide-enzyme interaction between FAPEG and ADH, including changes in the amino acid residue microenvironment and secondary structural alterations. Furthermore, FAPEG could protect against alcoholic liver injury (ALI) in mice by reducing blood alcohol concentration, enhancing the activity of antioxidant and alcohol metabolism enzymes, and attenuating alcohol-induced hepatotoxicity, which was related to the activation of the Nrf2/keap1/HO-1 signaling pathway. The study provided preliminary evidence that the generation of ADH-activating peptides in ethanol-induced L. lactis has the potential in preventing ALI in mice using in silico prediction and in vivo validation approaches.