Sample Of Ages Research Articles

The first serological survey of C. Burnetii in domestic animals in Poland

Background• Q fever, known as coxiellosis in animals, represents a global zoonotic threat caused by the intracellular bacterium Coxiella burnetii (C. burnetii). The disease affects many animal species, including those considered significant reservoirs, such as cattle, sheep and goats. Transmission of the pathogen to other domestic animals, including companion animals, and then to humans has also been observed, highlighting the importance of understanding the epidemiology and prevalence of C. burnetii among companion animals. The present study aimed to determine the frequency of seroreagents for C. burnetii within pet dogs, cats and rabbits from urban Poland areas and identify possible risk factors for these animals.Results• In total, serum samples from 491 dogs, 427 cats and 93 rabbits were used in the study. The seroprevalence of anti-C. burnetii antibodies in dogs and cats reached 0.61% (3/491; 95% CI: 0.21–1.78) and 0.23% (1/427; 95% CI: 0.04–1.31), respectively. No significant differences in seroprevalence across species and different subpopulations (age group, gender, exhibited symptoms, or sampling location) were found. All 93 samples from rabbits were negative for anti-C.burnetii antibodies.Conclusions• The seroprevalence rates of C. burnetii in dogs and cats were low; however, our results confirm that pet dogs and cats in Poland can be exposed to C. burnetii and may exhibit serological reactions. It has been reported that people who come into contact with secretions and excretions from the reproductive systems of dogs and cats (such as breeders, veterinarians, and veterinary clinic staff) may be at risk of contracting C. burnetii. Based on the findings, it is advised to be particularly cautious, especially when assisting with dogs and cats giving birth. Coxiellosis should be considered a potential cause of reproductive disorders in these animals. The results indicate that rabbits are probably less important in the circulation of the C. burnetii in the present study. This is the first serological survey of C. burnetii in pet dogs, cats and rabbits in Poland.

Turfgrass species and sward age influence soil carbon pools near the soil surface

AbstractEnhancing soil carbon (C) sequestration helps reduce atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations. Turfgrasses are important crops in the urban environment and have shown potential for C sequestration. However, little is known about how turfgrass species selection affects soil C concentration or how this varies over time. The objectives of this research were to evaluate the effect of three turfgrass species, sward age, and soil sampling depth on total soil C and N, soil organic matter (SOM), and labile soil C. A total of 25 locations throughout Indiana were sampled from established swards of Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.), tall fescue [Festuca arundinacea Schreb.; syn. Schedonorus arundinaceus (Schreb.) Dumort., nom. cons.], and zoysiagrass (Zoysia japonica Steud.) with varying sward age. Turfgrass species affected soil total C and labile C concentrations but had no effect on soil total nitrogen (N) or SOM. Differences between the C pools of soils under turf 0–10 years in age compared to those 11–25 years in age only occurred near the soil surface. As turf swards age, total soil C, total soil N, and SOM increased near the soil surface (0‐ to 7.5‐cm depth) and little beyond the 7.5 cm in depth. The strong relationship (p ≤ 0.0001, R2 > 0.57) between total N, SOM, and labile C highlighted their interplay in the mineralization of N from SOM and changes in the short‐term C pool of a turfgrass system.

Molecular Estimation of IL-15 Gene Effect and H. Pylori Prevalence in Celiac Disease

Remarkable positive associations across IL-15 values and the histopathological severity of celiac disease (CeD) indicate that interleukin (IL)-15 plays an essential part in the immunopathogenesis of the illness. There has been inconsistent evidence in certain research linking Helicobacter pylori to CeD. The goal of this meta-analysis was to measure the connection between CeD and H. pylori. Furthermore, the investigation examined the influence of H. pylori on the indications and categorization of CeD. This study includes 35 patients with CeD. They were fully informed of the study's goals before providing their signed consent. A group of 35 healthy blood donors made up the control group. Blood was drawn, transferred into gel tubes, and centrifuged. Serum specimens from both participants and controls have been obtained and then kept at -20°C in a deep freezer for subsequent use. It have been investigated the molecular relationship between IL-15 gene and CeD. It have been investigated the prevalence of H. pylori and CeD. The result of age and CeD incidence correlation indicates that there is no significance between age samples parameter and CeD incidence (control= 12.83 ± 0.4211, n=35 patients=12.23 ± 0.3358, n=35, p value=0.2692). Results of correlation between gender and CeD incidence indicates that number of male samples (24) and CeD incidence is more than that of female samples (11). Results of correlation between urban-rural residence and CeD incidence indicate that the average CDAT score for those who live in rural was higher in the urban area (good adherence to a gluten-free diet).

Skeptical reactions to breast cancer screening benefits and harms: Antecedents, consequences, and implications for screening communication.

When people receive information about the benefits and harms of mammography screening, they do not always accept it at face value and instead express skepticism. The purpose of this research was to identify the psychological drivers of this skepticism. Two theory-driven hypotheses were considered: One hypothesis proposes that skeptical reactions reflect a psychological defense against information that is emotionally aversive. Another proposes that skeptical reactions reflect a normative probabilistic inference that information that conflicts with prior beliefs is unlikely to be true. This work also identified the potential consequences of skepticism for people's screening preferences. A nationally representative sample of female participants ages 39-49 received information about the benefits and harms of mammography screening. Skepticism toward information about screening benefits and harms was measured, as well as hypothesis-relevant predictors of that skepticism. Participants' preferred age to have regular mammograms was also assessed. The results did not support the hypothesis that skepticism reflects an emotional defense. Instead, skepticism was associated with experiencing the information as conflicting with beliefs and past screening messages. Expressing more skepticism toward screening harms was associated with preferring to start screening at a younger age. These data suggest that people express skepticism toward mammography evidence not because it is aversive information, but instead because it conflicts with other things they believe and have been told. Consistent, coordinated messages from health experts about mammography evidence may therefore help to reduce skepticism, and help promote an informed patient population. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Effects of amount of lactose in milk replacer on gastrointestinal function of dairy calves

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of feeding milk replacer (MR) at different lactose amount while keeping osmolality constant on gastrointestinal function, blood parameters, and inflammation-related mRNA expression in the livers of dairy calves. Fifteen Holstein bull calves were assigned to one of three dietary treatments differing in MR lactose content (L: 38 %, M: 41 %, and H: 46 %). Feeding of the test diets was started at 1 day of age and gradually increased to a maximum feeding rate at 20 days of age (L: 1.16 kg/d, M: 1.21 kg/d, and H: 1.26 kg/d DM). Under these conditions, the lactose dosages for the treatments were 441 g/d, 496 g/d, and 580 g/d, respectively. The MR were prepared to ensure isocaloric and iso-osmotic (451 mOsm/kg) conditions. Fecal scores were recorded daily, and at 14 and 28 days of age, blood and breath samples were collected before and after MR feeding. In addition, feces and urine were collected for 2 consecutive days. Then, the calves were slaughtered to evaluate intestinal permeability and liver mRNA expression. The permeability in the duodenum and ileum was lower in H and M than in L; the permeability in the jejunum was also lower in H than in L. The hepatic mRNA expressions of toll-like receptor-2, IL-1β, and tumor-necrosis factor-α were lower in H and M than L. Nitrogen retention was higher in H than in L, and linear and quadratic increasing trends were observed in tissue ratio of gastrointestinal tract with the increase in lactose amount. Postprandial increase in plasma glucose concentration was smaller and postprandial increase in TG concentration was higher in H than in L. Fecal properties, digestibility, and breath hydrogen concentrations were not affected by treatment. These results indicate that feeding high-lactose MR may increase gastrointestinal weight and decrease permeability in the small intestine of calves.

Current smoking is related to severe damage in systemic lupus erythematosus patients

Objective To assess the relationship between smoking exposure and organ damage accrual measured by Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics/American College of Rheumatology Damage Index for Systemic Lupus Erythematosus score (SLICC-SDI) in consecutive patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) from Argentina. Methods 623 consecutive SLE patients (fulfilling ≥4, 1997 ACR criteria) were included in this cross-sectional study. Sociodemographic and disease related variables including SLICC-SDI score and smoking status were collected. Patients currently smoking were considered “smokers”, and “non-smokers” those who never smoked and former smokers. SLICC-SDI was divided into two categories: <3 and ≥3 was defined as severe damage. Results Six hundred and 23 patients were included in the analysis, 89% women. Eighty-four per cent were non-smokers and 16 % were current smokers 83 percent of patients had SLICC-SDI <3 and 17 % had SLICC-SDI ≥3. Twenty one percent of patients with SLICC-SDI ≥3 and 15% with <3 SLICC-SDI were current smokers ( p 0.081). In the multiple regression analysis, current smoking (OR 1.82, CI 95% 1.01-3.31, p 0.046), older age (OR 1.04, CI 95% 1.00-1.05, p 0.034), disease duration (OR 1.03, CI 95% 1.00-1.07, p 0.021) and cyclophosphamide exposure (OR 2.97, CI 95% 1.49-5.88, p 0.002) were related to SLICC-SDI ≥3. Conclusion In our sample of patients, current smoking, older age, disease duration and cyclophosphamide were related to severe damage (SLICC-SDI ≥3).

Hyper-binding: the surprising roles of age and affect.

When irrelevant stimuli are processed and then bound to relevant stimuli in memory, it is known as hyper-binding. Hyper-binding has been demonstrated consistently in older-aged participants, but university-aged participants do not typically show hyper-binding. This phenomenon has been attributed to older individuals having greater difficulty filtering out irrelevant information compared to younger adults. Emotions can also influence how individuals attend to and process information, and older individuals report feeling greater positive, and less negative, affect than younger adults. Low arousal positive affect is associated with greater cognitive breadth and reduced distractor suppression. Therefore, it is possible that differences in affect contribute to the differences in hyper-binding demonstrated for younger versus older adults. In four studies, we measured hyper-binding using a standard hyper-binding task and examined whether individual differences in hyper-binding could be predicted by individual differences in self-reported affect. Study 1 included an online community sample between 18 and 45years of age. Study 2 included university undergraduate students that were tested online. Study 3 participants included university undergraduate students that were tested in the lab. Study 4 participants included an older aged sample that was tested online. Overall, there were no significant relationships between affect and hyper-binding across age samples. Surprisingly, however, significant hyper-binding was observed for all age groups and was not larger for older individuals. The results suggest that individual differences in naturally occurring affect do not meaningfully predict hyper-binding, but the prevalence of hyper-binding across all studies demonstrates it may not be unique to older adults.

HIV risk perception and PrEP uptake among black MSM in Mississippi.

Rates for HIV are disproportionately higher for Black men who have sex with men (MSM) compared to other MSM in the U.S. While there is evidence that low perceived risk of HIV infection may increase HIV vulnerability, few studies have examined this relationship among Black MSM in the Southern U.S. where the HIV rates are the highest in the country. This study examined the association between perceived HIV risk and PrEP adoption among Black MSM in a medium-size city in Mississippi. Data were drawn from a subsample of the "ACCELERATE!" intervention, an innovative and sustainable community-driven project to improve health outcomes among Black MSM. The outcome of interest was PrEP uptake, a binary variable derived from responses to the question "Have you taken PrEP in the last year?". The perceived risk of HIV, an independent variable, is measured by self-report of an individual's assessment of their vulnerability of contracting HIV defined as low versus high risk. Covariates included age and socio-environmental factors (health insurance, incarceration and discrimination) Sample characteristics were provided using means and standard deviations for continuous variables and proportions for categorical variables. Exact logistic regression was used to assess the association between perceived HIV risk and PrEP adoption, adjusting for covariates. A total of 84 HIV negative Black men with a median age of 30 (min = 18, max = 69) years were available for analyses. Approximately 16% of participants reported experiencing incarceration and 57% reported experiencing discrimination. Seven out of ten respondents reported having low perceived risk, and 28.6% (24/84) reported having high perceived risk for HIV. There were 73 participants (86.9%) who reported PrEP use in the last year. We observed a higher proportion of participants with high perceived risk that reported lower uptake of PrEP. After adjusting for age, socioeconomic variables, and risky sexual behaviors, higher levels of perceived risk of HIV were associated with decreased odds of PrEP uptake (OR = 0.20, 95% CI: 0.04-0.94, p = 0.040). The role of HIV risk perception on PrEP adoption is complex among Black MSM in Mississippi. Higher levels of perceived risk of HIV were associated with lower odds of PrEP adoption among Black MSM. This inverse relationship between HIV risk perception and PrEP adoption suggests social- and structural- factors play a critical role in decision-making on PrEP initiation among Black MSM in Jackson. In addition, further longitudinal studies are needed to understand the complex interactions between perceived risk and PrEP use.

Step Length and Gait Speed Estimation Using a Hearing Aid Integrated Accelerometer: A Comparison of Different Algorithms.

Gait is an indicator of a person's health status and abnormal gait patterns are associated with a higher risk of falls, dementia, and mental health disorders. Wearable sensors facilitate long-term assessment of walking in the user's home environment. Earables, wearable sensors that are worn at the ear, are gaining popularity for digital health assessments because they are unobtrusive and can easily be integrated into the user's daily routine, for example, in hearing aids. A comprehensive gait analysis pipeline for an ear-worn accelerometer that includes spatial-temporal parameters is currently not existing. Therefore, we propose and compare three algorithmic approaches to estimate step length and gait speed based on ear-worn accelerometer data: a biomechanical model, feature-based machine learning (ML) models, and a convolutional neural network. We evaluated their performance on a step and walking bout level and compared it with an optical motion capture system. The feature-based ML model achieved the best performance with a precision of 4.8cm on a walking bout level. For gait speed, the machine learning approach achieved an absolute percentage error of 5.4 % ( ± 4.0 %). We find that the ML model is able to estimate step length and gait speed with clinically relevant precision. Furthermore, the model is insensitive to different age groups and sampling rates but sensitive to walking speed. To our knowledge, this work is the first contribution to estimating step length and gait speed using ear-worn accelerometers. Moreover, it lays the foundation for a comprehensive gait analysis framework for ear-worn sensors enabling continuous and long-term monitoring at home.

Seroprevalence of seven arboviruses of public health importance in sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

The arboviruses continue to be a threat to public health and socioeconomic development in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Seroprevalence surveys can be used as a population surveillance strategy for arboviruses in the absence of treatment and vaccines for most arboviruses, guiding the public health interventions. The objective of this study was to analyse the seroprevalence of arboviruses in SSA through a systematic review and meta-analysis. We searched PubMed/MEDLINE, Web of Science, Embase, Scopus and ScienceDirect databases for articles published between 2000 and 2022 reporting the seroprevalence of immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies to seven arboviruses in various human populations residing in SSA. The included studies were assessed using the checklist for assessing the risk of bias in prevalence studies, and the data were extracted using a standard form. A random effects model was used to estimate pooled seroprevalences. The potential sources of heterogeneity were explored through subgroup analyses and meta-regression. The protocol had been previously registered on International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews with the identifier: CRD42022377946. A total of 165 studies from 27 countries, comprising 186 332 participants, were included. Of these, 141 were low-risk and 24 were moderate-risk. The pooled IgG seroprevalence was 23.7% (17.9-30.0%) for Chikungunya virus, 22.7% (17.5-28.4%) for dengue virus, 22.6% (14.1-32.5%) for West Nile virus, 16.4% (7.1-28.5%) for yellow fever virus, 13.1% (6.4-21.7%) for Zika virus, 9.2% (6.5-12.3%) for Rift Valley fever virus and 6.0% (3.1-9.7) for Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever virus. Subgroup and meta-regression analyses showed that seroprevalence differed considerably between countries, study populations, specific age categories, sample sizes and laboratory methods. This SRMA provides information on the significant circulation of various arboviruses in SSA, which is essential for the adoption and planning of vaccines. These findings suggest the need to invest in surveillance and research activities on arbovirus in SSA countries to increase our understanding of their epidemiology to prevent and respond to future epidemics.

Organic geochemical and compound specific stable carbon isotope analyses of n-alkanes and saturated carboxylic acids extracted from late Paleozoic coals

Isotopic studies of coal organic matter are often conducted to gain information about past ecosystems and plant communities e.g. under changing climate conditions. While many studies focused on isotope analysis of bulk coal organic matter or extractable aliphatic hydrocarbons, the polar fraction and compounds that are bound to kerogen and not freely extractable have received less attention. The aim of this study was to provide a systematic comparison and evaluation of information gained from different molecular compounds (n-alkanes, n-carboxylic acids) extracted from Paleozoic coals before and after alkaline hydrolysis. Stable carbon isotope analysis of these compounds were used to evaluate a possible application of extractable and ‘bound’ lipids for paleoenvironmental analyses. Coal samples of different stratigraphic age, low thermal maturity (VRr < 1.02%, mostly VRr < 0.8%) and from different paleogeographic locations were selected to investigate organic matter deposited under different paleoenvironmental and paleoclimatic conditions. Molecular distributions show prominent carbon preference suggesting preservation of biologic signatures in coal organic matter. Permian Gondwana coals show similar n-alkane and n-carboxylic acid distribution which may be related to Glossopteris flora. Molecular distributions of Carboniferous coal from Europe are more variable with unimodal or bimodal patterns and maxima in the short- or long-chain range, reflecting higher diversity of paleovegetation and different contribution from algae or bacteria in limnic and paralic environments. The isotope signals of free as well as bound fatty acids show closer response for different depositional environments, whereas signals of paraffins and bulk organic matter are less variable. However, averaged fatty acid isotope signals in coals from different paleovegetational realms, e.g. Euramerica and Gondwana differed only marginally.Graphical abstractLipid distribution patterns and stable carbon isotope signatures of different Paleozoic coals

Integrating bulk and single-cell transcriptomics to elucidate the role and potential mechanisms of autophagy in aging tissue.

Autophagy is frequently observed in tissues during the aging process, yet the tissues most strongly correlated with autophagy during aging and the underlying regulatory mechanisms remain inadequately understood. The purpose of this study is to identify the tissues with the highest correlation between autophagy and aging, and to explore the functions and mechanisms of autophagy in the aging tissue microenvironment. Integrated bulk RNA-seq from over 7000 normal tissue samples, single-cell sequencing data from blood samples of different ages, more than 2000 acute myeloid leukemia (AML) bulk RNA-seq, and multiple sets of AML single-cell data. The datasets were analysed using various bioinformatic approaches. Blood tissue exhibited the highest positive correlation between autophagy and aging among healthy tissues. Single-cell resolution analysis revealed that in aged blood, classical monocytes (C. monocytes) are most closely associated with elevated autophagy levels. Increased autophagy in these monocytes correlated with a higher proportion of C. monocytes, with hypoxia identified as a crucial contributing factor. In AML, a representative myeloid blood disease, enhanced autophagy was accompanied by an increased proportionof C. monocytes. High autophagy levels in monocytes are associated with pro-inflammatory gene upregulation and Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) accumulation, contributing to tissue aging. This study revealed that autophagy is most strongly correlated with aging in blood tissue. Enhanced autophagy levels in C. monocytes demonstrate a positive correlation with increased secretion of pro-inflammatory factors and elevated production of ROS, which may contribute to a more rapid aging process. This discovery underscores the critical role of autophagy in blood aging and suggests potential therapeutic targets to mitigate aging-related health issues.

Electronic nicotine delivery system flavors, devices, and brands used by adults in the United States who smoke and formerly smoked in 2022: Findings from the United States International Tobacco Control Four Country Smoking and Vaping Survey

ObjectiveThis study estimated prevalence of current electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) used by US adults who smoked cigarettes or formerly smoked in 2022 and assessed ENDS flavors, devices, and brands used most often. MethodsData are from the 2022 US ITC Smoking and Vaping Survey. Respondents were recruited from a web panel of a nationally representative sample of US adults ages 18+ who smoked, formerly smoked, and/or vaped ENDS. Using weighted data, we estimated prevalence of current vaping among adults who smoke or formerly smoked (N = 2,016). Among the subset who vaped (n = 554), we assessed flavors and devices used most often. Using unweighted data, we assessed the frequency (count) of reported brands used most often. ResultsIn 2022, 22.0 % of US adults who smoked or formerly smoked were vaping at least monthly. A significantly higher proportion of adults who formerly smoked and/or were younger (18–39) were vaping than adults who were smoking and/or were older (40+) (both p < 0.001). Tank devices were used most often (34.7 %), followed by disposables (27.4 %), pre-filled pods/cartridges (23.0 %), and refillable pods/cartridges (14.9 %). The five most commonly used flavors were fruit (33.9 %), tobacco (20.1 %), menthol (12.2 %), candy/sweets (10.8 %), and mixed ice flavors (10.0 %). The top 5 brands were JUUL, Smok, Vuse, Geekvape, and Blu. ConclusionsIn 2022, a majority of adults who smoked cigarettes or who had quit smoking used a variety of flavors and devices that go beyond the choices that FDA currently has authorized for sale.

Bioinformatics Analysis and Spatiotemporal Distribution of the fliC Gene and Its Protein Isolated from Escherichia coli-Infected Patients in Eastern Algeria.

The fliC locus in Escherichia coli primarily encodes flagellar (H) antigens. Exploring fliC sequence diversity will shed light on the mechanisms of bacterial pathogenicity. This study examined the presence of fliC mutant strains of E. coli in infected patients from different age groups, sexes and sample types in eastern Algerian provinces over a span of 2 years. This retrospective, cross-sectional study involved three provinces in eastern Algeria: i) Bordj Bou Arreridj, ii) Setif and iii) Batna. A total of 75 E. coli isolates were obtained from the University State Hospital Centre. Two types of analyses were conducted: i) a bioinformatics analysis of the protein sequences translated from the fliC genes, specifically the fliC flagellar sequences and ii) a multifactorial statistical analysis (multiple correspondence analysis [MCA]) of the population of infected patients, considering various parameters. The fliC protein sequences were aligned using the Multiple Alignment using Fast Fourier Transform (MAFFT) programme. The alignment results were then visualised using the MView programme. Finally, a phylogenetic tree was constructed using the maximum likelihood algorithm in MEGA 11 software. Bioinformatics analysis highlighted the strong conservation of the structures of the fliC protein sequences, especially at the two N- and C-terminal ends, and strong variability in the central zone. This remarkable fliC intersequence similarity is corroborated by the presence of protein motifs identified in the PROSITE protein motif database. fliC mutations in E. coli were not detected in the clinical samples of patients from hospitals in the three Algerian Provinces. Our analysis revealed that all the samples exhibited characteristics of wild-type virulent bacteria without mutations. A multicentre study is warranted for epidemiological surveillance of fliC mutant strains for future preventive measures.

Affinities of the Sargat Population in the Baraba Forest-Steppe

Within-group, between-group, and comparative analysis of craniometric data relating to local and chronological samples of the Sargat population (5th century BC to late 3rd / 4th century AD) was carried out. The study focuses on sample from the Baraba forest-steppe. Comparative analysis, performed with the principal component method, included Early Iron Age samples from adjacent territories. No discontinuity was found in the spatio-temporal cranial variation among the Sargat groups. Despite differences between the three Sargat samples (Baraba, Irtysh, and Trans-Ural), they all represent one and the same Caucasoid physical type, characterized by meso-brachycrany, medium-high braincase, wide low, and somewhat flattened face, moderately inclined frontal bone, and protruding nasal bones. The Baraba group differs from two others by a wider face, larger pyriform aperture, and largest dacryal width. Comparative statistical analysis indicates affinities of the male part of Sargat groups with nomads of the Urals and Kazakhstan—Saka, Sauromatians, and Sarmats. Possibly, military campaigns by the Achaemenid state against the nomadic tribal unions of Central Asia in the second half of the 6th century BC triggered the migration process. Initially, migrants moved to the Irtysh basin, and thence to the western (Trans-Ural) and eastern (Baraba) peripheries of the emerging Sargat culture. The female part of the population was less affected by migratory processes. Female samples of the Sargat reveal an autochthonous cranial complex.

Comparison of Normal Human Skin and Hypertrophic Scar Tissue Samples of Different Ages, Locations, and Stages of Maturity.

Scars disrupt the normal structure and function of the skin. The primary goal of plastic surgery is to prevent and reduce scarring. Therefore, we aimed to establish a comparison scheme between normal skin (NS) tissues of different ages and locations; hypertrophic scars (HTS) of different ages, locations, and maturities; and NS and HTS tissues to provide evidence on scar severity for improving treatment evaluation. Various methods including histology, immunohistochemistry, and immunofluorescence were employed to compare the general appearance, macrophage infiltration, fibroblast activity, degree of angiogenesis, and collagen fiber type and arrangement in human-sourced NS and HTS tissues of different ages, locations, and maturities in seven patients (three with NS and four with HTS) from the Department of Burn and Plastic Surgery of the Shandong Provincial Hospital from January 2019 to December 2020. The thicknesses of the epidermis and dermis of NS tissues varied with age and location. The epidermis of the upper arms, face, and upper eyelids of NS tissues sequentially thickened, whereas the dermis was sequentially thinner. Several glandular structures were identified in the upper eyelids but rarely in the face and upper arms. Histological changes in HTS tissue of different ages, locations, and maturity occur as scar formation time is prolonged, accompanied by increased CD86 levels and fibrosis. As the scar matured, connexin and VEGFR2 expression decreased, indicating reduced inflammation, fibroblast activity, and angiogenesis. The comparison between NS and HTS tissue also revealed significant differences; the positive expression of VEGFR2 and total collagen in HTS tissue was higher than that in NS tissue. We discovered significant differences among NS, HTS, and NS and HTS tissues of different ages, locations, and maturities. Further, this study may provide a basis for clarifying the treatment effect of different methods for HTS compared with those for NS, efficiently individualizing patients' treatment plans and ultimately shortening the scar treatment process.

A statistical study showing the extent of variation between the levels of sodium and potassium in adults and the elderly and their impact on general health

Sodium and potassium are of great importance in the body as they play an important role in controlling the fluid balance in the body and their levels are affected by many factors, the most important of which are nutrition and chronic diseases. This study was designed to determine the extent of variation between the rates of these two elements in adults and the elderly and their importance in the body and their impact on general health, especially in the elderly. We seek to provide results that clarify the relationship between them and contribute to a better understanding of the impact of these elements on the health of the body. This study relied on the statistical aspect, as 82 random samples of different ages and both sexes were collected from different analysis laboratories in the city of Zawiya, with a percentage of (46.3%) males and (53.7%) females. Some percentages should be mentioned in numbers. The results showed that there were no statistically significant differences in the averages of sodium and potassium between males and females in this sample, but indicated that these levels may differ according to age, as the least represented was the group that was less than 20 years old at a percentage of 7.3%. The highest representation is the 30-39 age group at 23.2%, with a greater focus on the middle age groups (30-59 years), which constitute 50% of the sample. According to the statistical analysis, age is the potential factor for variation, whether in the decrease or increase of these two elements. This supports the importance of considering age as a potential factor for variation when studying these two factors. A statistical study shows the extent of variation between the levels of sodium and potassium in adults and the elderly and their impact on general health. Keywords: sodium; potassium; adults; elderly; range of variation.

Oxford Vaccine Hesitancy Scale (OVHS): a UK-based and US-based online mixed-methods psychometric development and validation study of an instrument to assess vaccine hesitancy

ObjectivesTo describe the development, validation and reliability of the Oxford Vaccine Hesitancy Scale (OVHS), a new instrument to assess vaccine hesitancy in the general population.DesignCross-sectional validation study.SettingInternet-based study with participants...

Five-leaf Generalizations of the D-statistic Reveal the Directionality of Admixture.

Over the past 15 years, the D-statistic, a four-taxon test for organismal admixture (hybridization, or introgression) which incorporates single nucleotide polymorphism data with allelic patterns ABBA and BABA, has seen considerable use. This statistic seeks to discern significant deviation from either a given species tree assumption, or from the balanced incomplete lineage sorting that could otherwise defy this species tree. However, while the D-statistic can successfully discriminate admixture from incomplete lineage sorting, it is not a simple matter to determine the directionality of admixture using only four-leaf tree models. As such, methods have been developed that use five leaves to evaluate admixture. Among these, the DFOIL method ("FOIL", a mnemonic for "First-Outer-Inner-Last"), which tests allelic patterns on the "symmetric" tree S=(((1,2),(3,4)),5), succeeds in finding admixture direction for many five-taxon examples. However, DFOIL does not make full use of all symmetry, nor can DFOIL function properly when ancient samples are included because of the reliance on singleton patterns (such as BAAAA and ABAAA). Here, we take inspiration from DFOIL to develop a new and completely general family of five-leaf admixture tests, dubbed Δ-statistics, that can either incorporate or exclude the singleton allelic patterns depending on individual taxon and age sampling choices. We describe two new shapes that are also fully testable, namely the "asymmetric" tree A=((((1,2),3),4),5) and the "quasisymmetric" tree Q=(((1,2),3),(4,5)), which can considerably supplement the "symmetric" S=(((1,2),(3,4)),5) model used by DFOIL. We demonstrate the consistency of Δ-statistics under various simulated scenarios, and provide empirical examples using data from black, brown and polar bears, the latter also including two ancient polar bear samples from previous studies. Recently, DFOIL and one of these ancient samples was used to argue for a dominant polar bear → brown bear introgression direction. However, we find, using both this ancient polar bear and our own, that by far the strongest signal using both DFOIL and Δ-statistics on tree S is actually bidirectional gene flow of indistinguishable direction. Further experiments on trees A and Q instead highlight what were likely two phases of admixture: one with stronger brown bear → polar bear introgression in ancient times, and a more recent phase with predominant polar bear → brown bear directionality.

Chinese utility weights for the EORTC cancer-specific utility instrument QLU-C10D.

The aim of this study is to provide Chinese utility weights for the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Utility Measure-Core 10 Dimensions (EORTC QLU-C10D) which is a preference-based cancer-specific utility instrument derived from the EORTC QLQ-C30. We conducted an online survey of the general population in China, with quota sampling for age and gender. Each respondent was asked to complete a discrete choice experimental survey consisting of 16 randomly selected choice sets. The conditional logit model and mixed logit model were used to analyze respondents' preferences, and the goodness of fit of the model was tested. A total of 2003 respondents were included in the analysis. Utility decrements within dimensions were typically monotonic. Monotonic inconsistency issues in the Fatigue, Sleep, and Nausea dimensions were normalized by monotonicity correction. Physical functioning, Pain, and Role functioning were associated with the greatest utility weights, with the smallest decrements being in Bowel problems and Emotional functioning. The utility value for the worst health state was 0.083, i.e. slightly higher than being dead. This study provides the first China-specific set of value for the QLU-C10D based on societal preferences of the Chinese adult general population. The value set can be used as a cancer-specific scoring system for economic evaluations of new oncology therapies and technologies in China.