Validity Of Analysis Research Articles

Mixed radiation with different doses induces CCL17 to recruit CD8+T cell to exert anti-tumor effects in non-small cell lung cancer

BackgroundDifferent doses of radiotherapy (RT) exert diverse effects on tumor immunity, although the precise irradiation method remains unknown. This study sought to elucidate the influence of combining different doses of RT with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) on the infiltration of CD8+T cells within tumors, thereby augmenting the anti-tumor response.MethodsConstructing a mouse model featuring bilateral lung cancer tumors subjected to high and low dose irradiation, the analysis of RNA transcriptome sequencing data and immunohistochemical validation for tumors exposed to various dosages guided the selection of the optimal low-dose irradiation scheme. Subsequently, upon the integration of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) therapy, the infiltration of immune cells within the tumor was ascertained via immunohistochemistry (IHC) and flow cytometry (FCM). Finally, through bioinformatics analysis and experimental verification, potential strategies to bolster the anti-tumor immune response were investigated.ResultsIn comparison to the administration of 20Gy alone to the primary tumor, supplementing with 6Gy directed at the abscopal tumor produces a more pronounced abscopal response. The synergy of 20Gy, 6Gy, and ICIs markedly boosts the efficiency of ICIs. According to the findings from IHC and FCM studies, the triple therapy group exhibits a heightened infiltration of immune cells into the tumor, largely attributable to the augmented expression of CCL17 within the tumor under these irradiation regimens, which subsequently draws CD8+ T cells to infiltrate the tumor site, exerting cytotoxic effects.ConclusionOur study shows that the combined application of 20Gy and 6Gy can enhance the infiltration of tumor CD8+T cells in mice and improve the effectiveness of immunotherapy.

FOREIGN LANGUAGE TEACHER CANDIDATES' PERCEPTIONS OF RESPONSIBILITY IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE TEACHING: A SCALE DEVELOPMENT STUDY

The aim of the present study is to develop a foreign language teaching responsibility perception scale for pre-service foreign language teachers. While teacher responsibilities are discussed by many stakeholders, it was identified that there is no scale in the literature on what pre-service foreign language teachers feel responsible for. Following the literature review, the form developed was finalised by making the necessary arrangements after the opinions of the experts for content validity. The researchers administered the scale in printed form to 354 participants who were studying in the 3rd and 4th grades in the Foreign Language Education departments of the Faculties of Education in Ankara. Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) was applied for the construct validity of the scale. As a result of EFA, a three-factor structure was determined, consisting of 29 items in total: 15 items in the first factor, 7 items in the second factor, and 7 items in the third factor. The total eigenvalue of the scale was calculated as 51,529%. Cronbach Alpha value was calculated for reliability. While the Cronbach Alpha value of the scale was calculated as 0.904, the Cronbach Alpha values of the factors were calculated as 0.920; 0.858; 0.854 respectively. Item-total correlations and comparisons between upper and lower groups showed that all items in the scale were discriminative. In the light of the validity and reliability analysis results, it can be said that a measurement tool with the necessary psychometric properties was developed within the scope of the current study.

The Reliability and Validity of Intraoral Photographs in Assessing Orthodontic Treatment Need.

Orthodontic treatment need has commonly been assessed using treatment need indices during clinical examinations or using photographs in combination with plaster casts. Recently, the use of intraoral photographs alone to screen malocclusions has increased. This study aimed to validate intraoral photographs for the assessment of orthodontic treatment need. The study sample consisted of case files from 30 pre-orthodontic patients aged 12-19 years. Each case file included intraoral photographs and casts. The cases were consecutively recruited from two orthodontic treatment waiting lists: 15 from the Department of Orthodontics at Folktandvården Eastmaninstitutet, Stockholm, Sweden and 15 from the Center for Orthodontics and Pediatric Dentistry, Norrköping, Public Dental Service Östergötland. Their orthodontic treatment need was assessed by four raters (calibrated orthodontists) using the indices IOTN-AC, IOTN-DHC, ICON, and DAI. The four raters individually assessed the 30 cases on three occasions: (1) photos only, (2) photos and casts, and (3) photos only. Finally, the four raters jointly made a consensus assessment using both photos and casts. For IOTN-AC and IOTN-DHC, interrater agreement was assessed with Fleiss' kappa, and validity with the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. For ICON and DAI, interrater agreement was assessed with Intra Class Correlation (ICC) (1, 2) and validity with a paired t-test. Interrater agreement for IOTN-AC was slight (0.14-0.18) and moderate for IOTN-DHC (0.51-0.57), regardless of whether photographs were used alone or combined with casts. ICON demonstrated moderate interrater agreement (0.57-0.72), while DAI showed moderate to excellent (0.70-0.91), similarly unaffected by the use of photographs alone or in combination with casts. The validity analysis, which compared the individual assessments to the consensus one, revealed equivalent differences whether the assessment involved intraoral photographs alone or in combination with casts. Intraoral photographs are sufficient for assessing orthodontic treatment need because interrater agreement and validity are similar whether photos are used alone or with casts. However, interrater variability was substantial for both assessment methods. ClinicalTrial.gov. identifier: NCT05038865.

PACOPED QL: Development and evaluation of the quality-of-life scale for children with life-threatening illnesses.

This study aims to validate the Palliative and Complex Chronic Pediatric Patients QoL Inventory (PACOPED QL), a new quality-of-life (QoL) assessment tool for pediatric palliative patients with complex chronic conditions. The goal is to create a comprehensive and inclusive instrument tailored to this unique population, addressing the gap in existing tools that do not meet these specific needs. The validation process included a literature review and consultations with experts. A pilot study refined the items, followed by a cross-sectional study involving pediatric palliative patients and their caregivers. Statistical analyses, such as Cronbach's alpha for internal consistency and exploratory factor analysis for structural validity, were utilized. The PACOPED QL, comprising 50 items across 8 domains and 6 subdomains, demonstrated strong reliability with Cronbach's alpha and Guttman split-half reliability both exceeding .9. Validity assessments confirmed its suitability for children with complex illnesses. The tool was refined through expert consultations and pilot testing, reducing items from an initial 85 to a final 50, ensuring relevance and clarity. The PACOPED QL shows strong reliability and validity in assessing QoL in pediatric palliative patients. Its comprehensive structure makes it a promising tool for clinical practice and research, addressing a critical need for a tailored assessment in this population. The instrument's robust psychometric properties indicate its potential utility in improving the QoL assessment and care for children with life-threatening illnesses. Further studies are encouraged to confirm its effectiveness across various settings.

Development and validation of a metabolic syndrome and its components to predict the efficacy of neoadjuvant chemotherapy in breast cancer: An observational, single-center, cohort study.

To assess whether metabolic syndrome can be used as a reference index to evaluate the efficacy of neoadjuvant chemotherapy treatment for breast cancer (BC). Seventy cases of female BC patients who received neoadjuvant chemotherapy treatment and surgical treatment at the Glandular Surgery Department of Hebei Provincial People's Hospital from January 2021 to December 2023 were retrospectively collected, and clinical data such as puncture pathology were recorded. The clinical data were analyzed by 1-way analysis using the χ2 test, and further multifactorial logistic regression analysis was performed for statistically significant differences. The independent risk factor metabolic syndrome (MetS) and its components were plotted in the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) curve and baseline graph by R Studio 4.41 software, and the meaningful components were plotted in the column graph by lasso regression analysis for internal validation, and the quality of the model was evaluated by the ROC curve and calibration graph, and then the clinical decision curve analysis was used to evaluate the clinical effectiveness of the model. The neoadjuvant efficacy was statistically associated with whether the patient was first diagnosed between 45 and 55 years of age, estrogen receptors (ER), progesterone receptors (PR) expression status, Her-2 expression status, and whether the patient had MetS, as determined by univariate analysis through χ2 (P < .05). On multifactorial binary logistic regression analysis, ER, PR status, Her-2 status, and the presence of MetS were statistically significant (P < .05) for the efficacy of neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Patients with MetS were less likely to achieve complete pathological remission than those without MetS. MetS and its components were analyzed by lasso regression analysis with RStudio 4.41 software to conclude that hypertension, hyperglycemia, and high-density lipoprotein were all correlates affecting the pathologic complete response (pCR), and a column-line graph was plotted, with a C-index of 0.76, indicating a good predictive efficacy. ER, PR status, Her-2 status and the presence of MetS are independent predictors for assessing the efficacy of neoadjuvant chemotherapy in BC, and MetS can be used as a predictor of the efficacy of neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Clinical references are provided.

Power Loss (ENTROPY) Scale in Schools

The research aims to develop a measurement tool with validity and reliability for measuring loss of power (entropy) in schools. The study group of the research consists of a total of 596 teachers working in 15 public schools in Van Province in the 2023-2024 academic year. As a result of the application of Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) to 381 teachers to ensure construct validity, a scale with 26 items and four factors, 1. People-oriented work environment and parents, 2. Energy use and environment, 3. Technology, 4. Achievement of goals and supervision—was created. The total variance rate of the scale was obtained as 63.29%. The factor load values of the items in the scale are between 509 and 829. It was also confirmed by confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) that the scale measures a four-factor structure. In addition, a 26-question scale was studied with a study group consisting of 215 teachers in the confirmatory factor analysis. According to the answers of the study group, the Cronbach Alpha internal consistency coefficient and item total correlations were analyzed. While Cronbach Alpha values were found to be 93, 95, 88, and 92 for each factor and 97 for the whole scale, the lowest value among the item total correlations of the items in the factors was 535, and the highest value was 832. The scale created in the study will be applicable and functional as a valid and reliable measurement tool for schools and valid for other educational organizations and as an Entropy Scale with the results of the validity and reliability analysis carried out and applied.

Genetic analysis of a child with Leukoencephalopathy with ataxia caused by a homozygous variant of CLCN2 gene and a literature review

To explore the clinical manifestations and genetic characteristics of a child with Leukoencephalopathy with ataxia (LKPAT) caused by a CLCN2 gene variant. A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of a child admitted to Hunan Children's Hospital in June 2024 due to "intermittent convulsions for 13 days". Peripheral blood samples were collected from the child and his parents for whole exome sequencing, followed by Sanger sequencing validation and pathogenicity analysis of candidate variants. Literature searches were performed using the keywords "CLCN2 gene" "chloride channel-2" "leukoencephalopathy with ataxia/LKPAT" "leukoencephalopathy" in both Chinese and English on CNKI, Wanfang, and PubMed databases. The search time was set from the establishment of the databases to July 31, 2024. Childhood-onset LKPAT literature was screened and analyzed. This study was approved by the Medical Ethics Committee of Hunan Children's Hospital (Ethics No. HCHLL-2024-351). The child was a 7-month-and-26-day-old male infant born to consanguineous parents, presenting with epileptic seizures and borderline development. Cranial MRI revealed symmetrical long T2 signal shadows in the posterior limb of the internal capsule, cerebral peduncle, pons, and middle peduncle of the cerebellum. Video electroencephalogram (EEG) showed an abnormal childhood EEG with one focal seizure. Whole exome sequencing revealed a homozygous c.2201dup (p.Glu735Ter) variant in the CLCN2 gene of the child. Sanger sequencing confirmed that the variant was inherited from both parents. According to the guidelines of the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG) and the Association for Molecular Pathology (AMP), this variant was classified as pathogenic (PVS1+PM3_Supporting+PM2_Supporting). A total of 8 relevant literature were retrieved, together with the present case, 16 childhood-onset LKPAT patients were cumulatively reported, which consisted of 9 males and 7 females. Twelve CLCN2 gene variants were involved, including 2 nonsense variants, 3 missense variants, 7 frameshifting variants, 2 c.61dup variants, and 5 c.1709G>A variants. The initial symptoms of the 16 patients included headache, ataxia, epileptic seizures, spasticity, developmental delay, lower back pain, hearing impairment, and intention tremor. Three patients had onset of the disease before the age of one, of which 2 had epileptic seizures as the initial symptom. The homozygous variant CLCN2: c.2201dup (p.Glu735Ter) is considered the pathogenic cause of LKPAT in this child, marking the first childhood-onset case reported in China. Genetic testing has facilitated the diagnosis of childhood-onset LKPAT and expanded the spectrum of CLCN2 gene mutations.

Resolving heterogeneity of early-onset major depressive disorder through individual differential structural covariance network analysis.

Early-onset major depressive disorder (EO-MDD) is characterized by its significant heterogeneity, hindering progress in research. Traditional case-control studies, like group-level structural covariance network, struggle to capture individual heterogeneity among EO-MDD patients. In this study, T1-weighted structural magnetic resonance imaging was obtained from 185 participants, including 103 EO-MDD patients and 82 healthy controls. A subject-level individual differential structural covariance network (IDSCN) was constructed for each patient based on the concept of normative model. Semi-supervised clustering algorithms were then employed to classify EO-MDD subtypes, followed by validation analyses to assess clustering stability. Our study identified two neuroanatomical subtypes. The low-covariance subtype is characterized by significant neural maturation gaps across the whole brain and more pronounced anxiety somatization symptoms. Conversely, the high-covariance subtype demonstrates simultaneous mature of brain structures. Our findings provide valuable insights into the neuroanatomical heterogeneity of EO-MDD patients, highlighting the importance of considering individual symptom profiles in subtype classification. These findings have substantial clinical implications for personalized treatment and precision medicine, offering more effective treatment choices and accurate diagnoses.

Denosumab and clinical outcomes among men with osteoporosis: a retrospective cohort study.

Direct evidence for fracture risk reduction of medications used among men with osteoporosis is very limited. This study aims to evaluate the real-world effectiveness of denosumab in reducing fracture risk. This study included 13,797 men aged ≥ 50years with osteoporosis who had initiated denosumab in Taiwan. Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database includes all Taiwan residents' complete health claim data. We compared incidence rates of clinical fractures between patients on denosumab 60mg subcutaneously every 6months (on-treatment) and patients ending therapy after one administration (off-treatment). Propensity score (PS) analysis, adjusting for measured differences at baseline covariates, was used to estimate the adjusted hazard ratio using a Cox proportion hazards model. During follow-up, 248 hip fracture events occurred. The crude incidence rates of hip fracture were 1.13 events and 1.73 events per 100 person-years in on-treatment and off-treatment cohorts, respectively. After PS inverse probability of treatment weighting, the cohorts achieved balance in all 59 covariates. The hip fracture event rate was lower in on-treatment cohort versus off-treatment cohort by 36% (hazard ratio, 0.64 [95% CI 0.50-0.83]). A similar magnitude of risk reduction was observed in clinical vertebral and nonvertebral fractures. A series of sensitivity analysis, including a validation analysis using a-million individual health records, demonstrated that unmeasured confounders were not suggested to impact study result interpretation. In this large, real-world study evaluating denosumab treatment among men with osteoporosis, the observed fracture risk reductions were consistent with the available risk reductions demonstrated in clinical trials among women with postmenopausal osteoporosis.

Synthesis, characterization, and computational evaluation of some synthesized xanthone derivatives: focus on kinase target network and biomedical properties

BackgroundXanthones are dubbed as putative lead-like molecules for cancer drug design and discovery. This study was aimed at the synthesis, characterization, and in silico target fishing of novel xanthone derivatives.MethodsThe products of reactions of xanthydrol with urea, thiourea, and thiosemicarbazide reacted with α-haloketones to prepare the thiazolone compounds. Xanthydrol reacted sequentially with ethyl chloroacetate, hydrazine, carbon disulfide, and α-haloketones to prepare the dithiolane. The xanthydrol reacted with propargyl bromide and it submitted to click reaction with azide to prepare triazole ring.ResultsFinally, four novel xanthones derivatives including (E)-2-(2-(9H-xanthen-9-yl)hydrazono)-1,3-dithiolan-4-one (L3), 2-(2-(9H-xanthen-9-yl)hydrazinyl)thiazol-5(4H)-one (L5), 2-(9H-xanthen-9-ylamino)thiazol-5(4H)-one (L7), and 4-((9H-xanthen-9-yloxy)methyl)-1-(4-nitrophenyl)-1H-1,2,3-triazole (L9) were synthesized and characterized using thin layer chromatography, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, and nuclear magnetic resonance (1H and 13C). ADMET, Pfizer filter, adverse drug reaction, toxicity, antitarget interaction profiles, target fishing, kinase target screening, molecular docking validation, and protein and gene network analysis were computed for derivatives. Ligands obeyed Pfizer filter for drug-likeness, while all ligands were categorized as toxic chemicals. Major targets of all ligands were predicted to be kinases including Haspin, WEE2, and PIM3. Mitogen-activated protein kinase 1 was the hub gene of target kinase network of all derivatives. All the ligands were predicted to show hepatotoxic potentials, while L7 presented cardiac toxicity.ConclusionAcute leukemic T-cells were one of the top predicted tumor cell lines for these ligands. The possible antileukemic effects of synthesized xanthone derivatives are potentially very interesting and warrant further studies.

Translation and assessment of encultured meaning of the Multi-Dimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support in Diné bizaad (Navajo) using community-based participatory action research methods.

Perceived social support is a psychological construct that is used to describe the 'perception of adequacy' of the support being provided by a person's social network. Higher perceived social support has been linked to multiple benefits across numerous studies over the past several decades and among multiple populations. The Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) is a 12-item scale to assess the construct of perceived social support. The instrument has been translated to approximately 35 languages and dialects, but it has rarely been translated into tribal languages, which may be commonly spoken in rural areas. Further, such translations have not always been accompanied by cultural adaptation. Assessment of the encultured meaning of terms from a validated instrument is important alongside translation because words and terms related to perceived social support can be culturally specific. As such, this article presents a community-engaged research approach to develop a translation of the MSPSS into Din&eacute; bizaad (Navajo), along with a qualitative assessment of the meaning and implications of key terminology from the instrument. This study was led by a faculty member at a Native American-Serving Nontribal Institution (NASNTI) in south-western Colorado, US. Additional research collaborators included the original developer of the English MSPSS, a researcher with experience in methodology, and a member of the local Navajo community who was a student at the NASNTI. Using convenience and snowball sampling, a 2.5-hour focus group discussion was conducted and audio-recorded in May 2023 with eight Navajo community members who met eligibility criteria (including fluency in both Din&eacute; and English). All participants provided consent and received gratitude gifts for completion. Participants were four males and four females with an age range of 30-60 years. Since the discussion and recording were bilingual, a written English and Din&eacute; transcription was produced and anonymized, then reviewed by researchers. It was then backward-forward translated to English, then checked with discussion participants to validate accuracy. Using the general inductive method, key concepts and codes were separately identified and documented using NVivo 21 by two researchers. Full consensus as to coding was achieved over a sequence of six iterative consensus meetings among the coders. The project was able to produce a harmonized version of the MSPSS translated into Din&eacute; bizaad that accounted for variation in meaning and intent of multiple core concepts of perceived social support. For example, concepts of 'family' and 'friend' were often characterized by ethnic clan-based close-knit bonds. The concept of 'significant other' often meant 'spouse' but sometimes also meant someone who was highly trusted, especially among unmarried discussants. 'Social support' was trust-based rather than need-based and often relied on gender-concordant bonding. Many additional nuances were discussed and are outlined in the full study. Navajo community members were excited to collaboratively work on making this screening tool available in Din&eacute; bizaad. The translation that emerged from this process likely differed from what would have emerged from a direct translation without community input. Next steps for the tool should include quantitative reliability and validity analyses.

Static and dynamic connectivity structure of white-matter functional networks across the adult lifespan.

Aging of the human brain involves intricate biological processes, resulting in complex changes in structure and function. While the effects of aging on gray matter (GM) connectivity are extensively studied, white matter (WM) functional changes have received comparatively less attention. This study examines age-related WM functional dynamics using resting-state fMRI across the adult lifespan. We identified GM and WM functional networks (FNs) using k-means clustering. Static and dynamic analyses of WM functional network connectivity (FNC) were performed to explore age effects on WM-FNs and recurrent patterns of dynamic FNC. We identified 9 WM and 12 GM FNs. Age-related effects on WM FNC strength and WM-GM FNC dynamics included linear positive and U-shaped age trajectories in static FNC strength, and linear negative and inverted U-shaped trajectories in FNC temporal variability. Three distinct brain states with significant age-related differences were identified and validated. These findings were largely replicated in the validation analysis. High integration and low temporal variability in WM-GM FNC may indicate reduced adaptability of the network system in older adults, offering insights into brain aging processes.

Adapting and validating the satisfaction, alertness, timing, efficiency, and duration-breast cancer (SATED-BC) scale for measuring sleep health in Spanish women treated for breast cancer.

After breast cancer (BC), women may face other severe symptoms such as sleep problems. The use of simple, fast, and reliable scales is necessary in the clinic to improve patient benefits, and sleep is an important aspect to be addressed. This study was conducted to adapt and validate the Spanish version of the satisfaction, alertness, timing, efficiency, and duration (SATED) scale for measuring sleep health in women who have completed treatment for BC in Spain (SATED-BC). Cross-sectional study. The adaptation process involved adding a sixth item to the SATED-BC scale: "the impact of symptoms experienced after completing breast cancer treatment on sleep" item was not considered for scoring. The SATED-BC score ranged from 0 (poorest sleep health) to 10 (best sleep health). A validation analysis was performed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, the Consensus Sleep Diary, and actigraphy, and the results were compared with those obtained using the SATED-BC scale. The SATED-BC scale was reliable in terms of its internal consistency (Cronbach's α = 0.70; McDonald's ω = 0.72), showed high intrasubject reliability (r = 0.90), and was shown to be valid for use in women who have completed treatment for breast cancer. The SATED-BC scale is a reliable and valid tool for comprehensively evaluating sleep health in women who have completed treatment for breast cancer.

Psychometric evaluation of the elderly mobility scale in Indonesia.

The Elderly Mobility Scale (EMS) is widely used to identify mobility limitations in older adults, though it has not been validated in Indonesia. To evaluate the reliability and validity of the Indonesian version of the EMS (EMS-I). A cross-sectional design involving 230 older adults in South Tangerang City, Indonesia, was used. The EMS was translated and culturally adapted following a multistage process. Psychometric testing included content validity, exploratory, and confirmatory factor analysis. The participants had a mean age of 70, with 65.7 % female. Results demonstrated high internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha = .942) and item content validity index (I-CVI > .75). Exploratory factor analysis confirmed a unidimensional structure, with confirmatory factor analysis supporting a good model fit. The EMS-I shows high reliability and validity, enabling healthcare professionals to monitor mobility status and facilitate targeted interventions for enhancing well-being in community-dwelling older adults in Indonesia.

Integration of eQTL and multi-omics comprehensive analysis of triacylglycerol synthase 1 (TGS1) as a prognostic and immunotherapeutic biomarker across pan-cancer.

An increasing number of expression quantitative trait loci (eQTLs) have been linked to tumorigenesis. In this study, we used Mendelian randomization (MR) to identify a novel cancer susceptibility gene, Trimethylguanosine Synthase 1 (TGS1). TGS1-induced hypermethylation at the 5' end of human telomerase RNA (hTR) impedes hTR accumulation, decreasing telomerase assembly factor levels and thus limiting telomere elongation, a crucial factor in tumor progression. Despite its significant role in cancer development, the TGS1-cancer relationship requires further experimental validation and bioinformatics analysis. To bridge this knowledge gap, we performed a comprehensive pan-cancer study using MR to evaluate TGS1's involvement in cancer progression. Leveraging data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO), we analyzed TGS1's role in 33 tumor types. The results indicated higher TGS1 expression in most tumors, with a significant correlation to patient prognosis. We also noted variations in TGS1 phosphorylation at different sites and a strong link between TGS1 expression and the infiltration of various immune cells. In addition, our enrichment analysis of TGS1-associated genes shed light on the molecular mechanisms involved. The study also highlighted TGS1's significant role in cellular apoptosis. Overall, our findings offer an in-depth analysis of TGS1's oncogenic roles across multiple tumor types and underscore its potential as an oncogene, biomarker, and gene therapy target in diverse cancers.

Performance Validation and Blood Donation Analysis in Nagqu, Tibet, One of the Highest Cities in the World.

Due to the unique geographical and climatic conditions in Nagqu (Tibet), the blood station laboratory was only fully established and accredited by 2020. This study validated the performance of the laboratory's blood screening system and analyzed recent trends in blood donation and screening effectiveness. Various serum samples were used to assess the performance of hepatitis B, hepatitis C, HIV, and syphilis tests, both serological and nucleic acid tests. Donation data were also collected and analyzed. Serological testing demonstrated excellent sensitivity, specificity, and reproducibility (all 100%), with detection limits for HBsAg, HCV Ab, HIV-1 Ab, HIV-1 p24, and TP Ab of 0.2 IU/mL, 0.013 NCU/mL, 0.25 NCU/mL, 1.25 U/mL, and 1.5 mIU/mL, respectively. Nucleic acid testing systems also achieved 100% reproducibility with precision below 5%. PROBIT analysis revealed the 95% detection limits for HBV DNA, HCV RNA, and HIV-1 RNA as 8.29, 97.14, and 40.52 IU/mL, respectively. The study also found a high rate of unqualified donations for local markers such as ALT, HBsAg, syphilis, and HBV DNA. The validation confirmed the screening system's high sensitivity, specificity, and reproducibility, highlighting the importance of effective predonation checks to ensure a safe blood supply in high-altitude areas.

Anti-Inflammatory Properties of Biflavonoids Derived from Selaginella moellendorffii Hieron: Targeting NLRP3 Inflammasome-Dependent Pyroptosis

Ethnopharmacological relevanceSelaginella moellendorffii Hieron. has been used as ethnic drug for chronic inflammation treatment. Biflavonoids represent a crucial class of bioactive compounds recognized for their potent anti-inflammatory activity in S. moellendorffii (SM). However, the effective components, targets, and pathways that SM in anti-inflammasome remain unclear. Aim of the studyTherefore, this study initially evaluated the effective components of SM and explored the underlying mechanisms. Materials and methodsFirstly, a series of biflavonoids were isolated from SM, and then all compounds were evaluated for their anti-inflammatory ability in the THP-macrophages co-stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and NLRP3 inflammasome inducers. Secondly, transcriptomic analysis and metabolomics analysis revealed the differential genes and metabolites associated with effective components treatment. Finally, molecular docking of effective components with NLRP3 was performed and western blotting was performed in order to determine the expression of related proteins. ResultsOverall, eleven biflavonoids were successfully isolated from SM. Particularly, F7 exhibited the most potent inhibitory effect against NLRP3 inflammasome-mediated cytokines levels, cell membrane integrity and Ca2+ influx. Transcriptomic studies demonstrated that the differential genes (DEGs) were mainly enriched in NF-κB signaling pathway and NOD-like receptor signaling pathway. Metabolomics studies that the metabolites were mainly involved the pyrimidine metabolites. Further validation analysis manifested that F7's significant downregulation of NLRP3 inflammasome-related genes and proteins expression (P<0.05, P<0.01), encompassing both priming (NLRP3, TNF-α, p-p65/p65) and activation stages (IL-1β, IL-18, Caspase-1, GSDMD-N/GSDMD). Moreover, NLRP3 knockdown attenuated F7-mediated inhibition of pyroptosis. Finally, in silico results showed that F7 exhibited promising predicted binding affinity towards NLRP3. ConclusionsCollectively, these findings revealed an anti-inflammatory material basis for SM and confirmed F7 as a potent inhibitor of pyroptosis by suppressing NF-κB/NLRP3 Pathway.

Development of a Self-Care Autonomy in Health Scale for Late Adolescents.

This paper describes the development of the Self-Care Autonomy in Health Scale for Late Adolescents (SAHSLA) for use with general samples. It addresses concerns regarding the nonclinical efficacy of self-care health scales for adolescents, particularly their ability to discriminate between lower levels of self-care. A survey was constructed based on literature review and subsequently evaluated in two studies. Parents (N = 57, 53 parents of girls, 4 of boys, Mage = 15.96) participated in Study 1, which investigated the internal with Cronbach's alpha and coefficient omega (ω), and convergent validity with regard to adolescent age. In Study 2, the SAHSLA scores of adolescents (N = 339, 268 girls, 73 boys, Mage = 15.87) were examined using confirmatory factor and convergent validity analyses in relation to age, gender, smoking and alcohol consumption patterns, and self-compassion assessments. In Study 1, the scale total and a child's age did not substantially correlate. Both omega and alpha were moderate. Study 2 revealed a two-factor model with physical and psychological components. There were minor yet statistically significant associations found between self-judgement and psychological SAHSLA. Physical SAHSLA was not connected with age, overidentification, isolation or self-judgement, but it was statistically strongly correlated with total self-compassion. The scale and study findings can be applied to health monitoring and interventions in schools and adolescent campaigns aimed at alcohol- and tobacco-use cessation.

Italian Vocal Fatigue Index: Cross-Cultural Adaptation and Validation.

Vocal fatigue involves self-perceived vocal symptoms and reduced physiological capacity. This study aimed to adapt and validate the Vocal Fatigue Index (VFI), a tool originally designed to distinguish between patients with vocal fatigue and vocally healthy individuals, for Italian speakers. A four-step translation and validation process was employed. First, four bilingual clinicians specializing in voice disorders translated the English VFI into Italian. An expert committee of six bilingual Italian-English voice disorder specialists then reviewed and refined these translations, leading to a preliminary Italian version. This version was then back-translated into English by one of the authors, ensuring semantic equivalence with the original. Finally, the resulting Italian VFI (VFI-I) was pretested in a study involving 669 participants (386 normal voices and 283 disordered voices) from diverse regions. Nonparametric tests showed significantly higher VFI-I scores for all factors among participants with voice disorders compared with participants with healthy voices. The VFI-I showed good internal consistency and reliability, with Cronbach alpha coefficients ranging from 0.92 to 0.97. Treatment-induced changes were captured, showing a significant decrease in Factor-1 scores post therapy. Convergent validity analysis indicated moderate correlations between VFI-I factors and VHI-I subscales. Multivariate analysis confirmed the association of VFI-I factors with diagnosed voice disorders. This study established the VFI-I as a reliable and valid tool for identifying Italian speakers with vocal fatigue, with good sensitivity to clinical diagnosis, and the ability to track treatment progress highlighting its potential for improving voice care in Italian-speaking populations.

Profile of Nandrolone-Based Anabolic Steroids Confiscated by Federal Police of Foz do Iguaçu, Paraná, Brazil

Anabolic steroids are often consumed by both amateur and professional sports practitioners with the aim of improving their performance and for the rapid gain of muscle mass. Nandrolone is one of the main steroids consumed and is, frequently, acquired illegally or from dubious sources, and this raises serious concerns regarding the quality of the products. This work sought to qualitatively and quantitatively evaluates oily, nandrolone-based anabolic steroids confiscated by the Federal Police Department, in the triple border (Paraguay-Brazil-Argentina, PY-BR-AR). For the quantitative study, we conducted a methodological validation analysis based on the application of solvent extraction and GC-MS (gas chromatography-mass spectrometry). A total of 40 samples of nandrolone steroids (as described on the label) were thoroughly investigated. The results obtained showed that 90% of the samples analyzed contained the active ingredient but 67.5% of these samples exhibited concentrations below the values indicated on the label; these products are thus considered to be of low quality and their consumption may pose serious risks to the consumers. The findings of this study point to the importance of enforcing regulatory controls on the sale of anabolic steroids with a view to inhibiting the consumption of counterfeit drugs that can pose serious risks to the health of consumers.