Variation In Age Research Articles

The long-term consequences of school suspension and expulsion on depressive symptoms

Exposure to exclusionary discipline has been tied to several deleterious outcomes in adulthood, including contact with the criminal legal system. While this work provides interesting insight into the long-term consequences tied to this form of school punishment, few have attempted to consider whether and how, exclusionary discipline practices, in particular, school suspension and expulsion shape mental health patterning over the life course. Using panel data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health, we contribute to this body of literature by examining whether exposure to school suspension or expulsion shapes depressive symptom trajectories from adolescence to adulthood. Results from our mixed-effects linear growth curve models demonstrate both forms of exclusionary discipline play a significant role in depressive symptom trajectories. We find suspended and expelled youth exhibit significantly higher depressive symptoms in adolescence when compared to their counterparts with no history of suspension or expulsion. Results also show age variation in depressive symptom trajectories by history of exposure to exclusionary discipline. Specifically, results show the depressive symptoms gap between disciplined and non-disciplined youth slightly dissipates as youth age into early adulthood, but as individuals begin to transition out of this stage of the life course, the gap in depressive symptoms widens substantially. Results carry implications for how punitive disciplinary practices in schools shape mental health from adolescence to adulthood.

Ontogenic Predisposition of Tomato Foliage to Early Blight Caused by Alternaria solani under Mountainous Conditions of Kashmir

This study explores the susceptibility of tomato plants to early blight caused by Alternaria solani concerning their chronological and physiological ages. While previous research has noted higher resistance in younger potato plants and an acropetal increase in resistance within plant leaves, such investigations are limited in tomatoes. Our study aimed to address this gap by investigating the influence of chronological and physiological ages on early blight resistance in tomato plants. Using the Keck Ruth Ageti cultivar, we conducted experiments at various plant growth stages. Chronological age variations were achieved by sowing seeds at 10-day intervals, with inoculation occurring when the youngest seedlings reached 20 days. Leaf sampling from different sections facilitated the evaluation of physiological age effects. Results showed a direct relationship between plant age and disease susceptibility, with older plants exhibiting higher incidence rates. Moreover, resistance increased from lower to upper leaves, with top leaves demonstrating the highest resistance.

Sex and age variations in anthropometry and hand grip strength amongst students of Ahmadu Bello University, Nigeria

Sex and age variations in anthropometry and hand grip strength amongst students of Ahmadu Bello University, Nigeria

Effectiveness of ultrasonography in the diagnosis of temporomandibular joint disorders: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) pose diagnostic challenges, and selecting appropriate imaging modalities is crucial for accurate assessment. This study aimed to compare the diagnostic accuracy and efficacy of ultrasonography (US) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in identifying TMDs. A comprehensive meta-analysis was conducted, including studies that compared US and MRI for TMJ disorder assessments. Fixed-effects models were utilized to calculate pooled odds ratios (ORs) and relative risks (RRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Heterogeneity was assessed using the chi-squared test and I2 statistic. Newcastle-Ottawa scale was used to assess the methodological quality of the studies included. Six studies were included, involving a total of 281 participants. The meta-analysis demonstrated that MRI was statistically somewhat better than US in identifying TMJ disorders. The summary OR was 0.64 (95% CI: 0.46-0.90), and the summary RR was 0.80 (95% CI: 0.68-0.95). Heterogeneity among the studies was low (χ2 = 2.73, df = 5, p = .74; I2 = 0%). Demographic variables revealed variations in sample size, gender ratio and mean age across the studies. This meta-analysis provides evidence that MRI may be more effective than US in diagnosing TMDs. However, the study is limited by the small number of included studies and variations in demographic variables and study designs. Future research with larger samples and standardised protocols is essential to confirm and strengthen these findings. Understanding the diagnostic accuracy of MRI and US for TMJ disorders will aid clinicians in making informed decisions for effective TMJ disorder assessments and patient management.

Feeling Younger on Active Summer Days? On the Interplay of Behavioral and Environmental Factors With Day-to-Day Variability in Subjective Age.

Subjective age, that is, how old people feel in relation to their chronological age, has mostly been investigated from a macro-longitudinal, lifespan point of view and in relation to major developmental outcomes. Recent evidence also shows considerable intraindividual variations in micro-longitudinal studies as well as relations to everyday psychological correlates such as stress or affect, but findings on the interplay with physical activity or sleep as behavioral factors and environmental factors such as weather conditions are scarce. We examined data from 80 recently retired individuals aged 59-76 years (M = 67.03 years, 59% women) observed across 21 days. Daily diary-based assessments of subjective age, stress, affect, and sleep quality alongside physical activity measurement via Fitbit (steps, moderate-to-vigorous physical activity) and daily hours of sunshine were collected and analyzed using multilevel modeling. Forty-four percent of the overall variance in subjective age was due to intraindividual variation, demonstrating considerable fluctuation. Affect explained the largest share in day-to-day fluctuations of subjective age, followed by stress and steps, whereas sunshine duration explained the largest share of variance in interindividual differences. In our daily diary design, subjective age was most strongly related to self-reported affect as a psychological correlate. We, however, also found clear associations with objective data on daily steps and weather. Hence, our study contributes to contextualizing and understanding variations in subjective age in everyday life.

Fetal strain and strain rate measured with speckle tracking echocardiography in maternal diabetes: systematic review.

The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to evaluate fetal cardiac function in fetuses of mothers with diabetes compared to those of mothers without diabetes using 2D-STE. Embase, MEDLINE and CENTRAL were searched for observational studies on 2D-STE fetal left and right ventricular global longitudinal strain and strain rate that included singleton, non-anomalous pregnancies complicated by pregestational or gestational diabetes mellitus compared to uncomplicated pregnancies. The strain values were pooled per 4 weeks of gestation for meta-analysis using random-effects models. Fifteen studies met the criteria, including 990 fetuses of diabetic mothers and 1,645 control fetuses. The study design was cross-sectional in fourteen studies and longitudinal in one study. Gestational age, type of diabetes, ultrasound device and 2D-STE software varied between the studies. Glycemic control and type of treatment were often lacking. In fetuses of diabetic mothers versus healthy mothers, left ventricular strain was significantly decreased (7 studies), increased (1 study) or not significantly different (7 studies). Right ventricular strain was decreased (7 studies), increased (1 study) or not different (2 studies). Left ventricular strain rate was decreased (3 studies), increased (1 study) or not different (2 studies). Right ventricular strain rate was increased (1 study) or not different (2 studies). Fetuses of mothers with diabetes show evidence of systolic dysfunction, which is more visible in the right ventricle. Contradictory results are probably due to suboptimal study designs and variation in gestational age, diabetes severity, image acquisition and software. Large prospective longitudinal studies are needed to assess fetal myocardial function with 2D-STE in pregestational diabetes mellitus type 1 and 2 and gestational diabetes mellitus pregnancies. The influence of glycemic control, BMI and treatment should be evaluated.

BELUGA WHALE LION OPTIMIZATION IN DEEP-NETS FOR HUMAN AGE ESTIMATION USING HAND X-RAY

Bones undergo significant changes in size and shape with the growth of the child, and bone age estimation is crucial for determining the growth, genetic and endocrine disorders in children. Hand X-ray images are extensively utilized for diagnosing disorders in children. The variation in the chronological age and bone age indicates the presence of endocrine disorders, genetic problems, and growth abnormalities. Traditionally, bone age is estimated manually by inspecting the X-ray images, which is extremely time-consuming and prone to error. Further, the accuracy of the bone estimate depends on the experience of the medical practitioner, and thus it suffers from intra- and inter-observer variability. Hence, to overcome these issues, it is essential to devise automatic methods that can estimate the bone with high accuracy and in a short duration. In this work, bone age is estimated using a Deep Residual Network (DRN), whose learnable factors are adjusted using the devised Beluga Whale Lion Optimization (BWLO) algorithm. Further, the BWLO_DRN is examined for its superiority considering metrics, like accuracy, True Positive Rate (TPR), and True Negative Rate (TNR), and the corresponding values of 89.8%, 86.8%, and 90% are found to be achieved from the experimental results.

VARIABILITY OF SOMATOTYPES ACCORDING TO HEATH-CARTER IN ADULT CHUVASH PEOPLE

Introduction. In the range of topical problems of modern human morphology, the doctrine of bodily constitution occupies an important place, but there is a shortage of data on population variability of somatotypes in the literature. The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to study age and sex variations in body composition components using the Heath-Carter method in the Chuvash rural population examined in several villages in the Mariinsky-Posad, Morgaushsky and Yadrinsky districts of Chuvashia and Chuvash villages in the Aurgazinsky and Bizhbulyaksky districts of Bashkiria. The tasks included the determination and analysis of somatotypes according to Heath-Carter of men and women in age subgroups of adult Chuvash and assessment of age-related variability of sexual dimorphism of somatotype scores. Materials and methods. The study sample consists of 802 men aged 18–89 years (M = 46.9) and 738 women aged 18–90 years (M = 48.6) examined in 1994, 1999 and 2002. Age and sex differences were assessed using one-way analysis of variance. Mahalanobis distances were used to rate the sexual dimorphism of somatotype components. Results and discussion. Sex differences in the assessment of somatotype variations in the Chuvash population turn out to be most significant for the characteristics of endomorphy, with higher values in women. The values of endomorphy in men after 30 years practically did not change, but in women it continued to increase until the 6th decade, and then decreased with age. There were practically no differences in the mesomorphy; very small differences were found in ectomorphy between men and women aged 18-30 years. Mesomorphy increases from 18-30 years to 50 in both sexes; the ectomorphy shows opposite age trends. A leveling of sex differences in all body composition components was recorded in the older part of the combined sample (70 – 80 years old). Conclusions. Local patterns of age-related variability in body composition components for ethnic Chuvash are shown. For the first time, using representative material, indicators of sexual dimorphism have been determined for the complex of components of endomorphy, mesomorphy and ectomorphy in the Chuvash, showing the maximum intersexual differences in the age range of 41-60 years. A predominance of endomesomorphic body types in both sexes was revealed, with a tendency towards balanced mesomorphy in men (the youngest male subgroup is characterized by an ectomesomorphic somatotype).

THE IMPACT OF FAMILY PLANNING ON MATERNAL HEALTH IN QUETTA, BALOCHISTAN: A QUALITATIVE STUDY

Balochistan, a region with one of the highest maternal mortality rates in Pakistan, faces significant challenges in maternal health. This qualitative study focuses on the impact of family planning on maternal health in Quetta, Balochistan, emphasizing the importance of understanding and improving health outcomes for women and their families. Objectives: The primary aim of this study is to explore the experiences and perspectives of women regarding the use of family planning methods and their impact on maternal health and well-being. It aims to compare the health outcomes of women who have utilized family planning methods with those who have not. Method: The research design includes in-depth interviews and focus group discussions (FGDs) with a diverse sample of women aged 18-45 years and healthcare providers at Sandeman Provincial Hospital, commonly known as Civil Hospital, in Quetta. Purposive sampling was employed to account for age, socioeconomic status, and education level variations. Forty-seven in-depth interviews were conducted to gather rich, contextual data. Thematic analysis was used to identify recurring themes and patterns in the responses. Results: Preliminary findings indicate several key themes, including the motivations for choosing family planning methods, the impact of these methods on reducing pregnancy risks, improving spacing between pregnancies, and enhancing postpartum recovery. Additional insights were gained into the factors influencing the adoption of family planning services, such as cultural norms, religious beliefs, and access to healthcare and information. Conclusion: The study underscores the critical role of family planning in enhancing maternal health outcomes in Quetta, Balochistan. It highlights the need for targeted educational and healthcare interventions to improve the accessibility and acceptance of family planning services, thereby contributing to the well-being of women and their families in the region.

Elucidating the Relationship between Neutrophil-Lymphocyte Ratio and Plaque Composition in Patients with Drug-Eluting Stent Restenosis by Virtual Histology-Intravascular Ultrasound.

(1) Background: In-stent Restenosis (ISR) is a major factor influencing the prognosis and revascularization of target lesions. The plaque composition is unclear; therefore, it is critical to investigate ISR composition to identify clinical intervention markers. (2) Methods: This study was conducted on 36 patients with drug-eluting stent restenosis. The patients were classified into a Low Neutrophil-Lymphocyte Ratio (L-NLR) and High Neutrophil-Lymphocyte Ratio (H-NLR) according to the median NLR level of 36 patients. Discrepancies in the current information such as baseline data, biochemical examination, cardiac ultrasound data, etc., were examined to identify the underlying risk factors, and a multifactorial linear regression analysis of plaque properties was conducted. (3) Results: NLR = 2.64 was utilized to classify 18 patients into the L-NLR group and 18 patients into the H-NLR group. There were statistically significant differences in age, a pre-percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) SYNTAX II score, a C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin (IL)-6, plaque loading, a fibro-lipid tissue area, calcified nubs, and virtual histology-thin fibrous cap atherosclerotic (VH-TCFA). The significant impacts of variations in age, neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) levels, and IL-6 levels on the plaque stress and percentage of the fibro-lipid tissue in virtual histology-intravascular ultrasound (VH-IVUS) were identified through multifactorial linear regression. (4) Conclusions: The high NLR group demonstrated increased myocardial injury severity, consistent with higher SYNTAX II scores, a higher plaque burden, and higher proportions of vulnerable components. NLR proved to be a risk factor for both the plaque load and the proportion of the fibro-lipid tissue in ISR.

Prenatal stress and gestational epigenetic age: No evidence of associations based on a large prospective multi-cohort study.

Psychological stress during pregnancy is known to have a range of long-lasting negative consequences on the development and health of offspring. Here, we tested whether a measure of prenatal early-life stress was associated with a biomarker of physiological development at birth, namely epigenetic gestational age, using foetal cord-blood DNA-methylation data. Longitudinal cohorts from the Netherlands (Generation R Study [Generation R], n = 1,396), the UK (British Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children [ALSPAC], n = 642), and Norway (Mother, Father and Child Cohort Study [MoBa], n1 = 1,212 and n2 = 678) provided data on prenatal maternal stress and genome-wide DNA methylation from cord blood and were meta-analysed (pooled n = 3,928). Measures of epigenetic age acceleration were calculated using three different gestational epigenetic clocks: "Bohlin", "EPIC overlap" and "Knight". Prenatal stress exposure, examined as an overall cumulative score, was not significantly associated with epigenetically-estimated gestational age acceleration or deceleration in any of the clocks, based on the results of the pooled meta-analysis or those of the individual cohorts. No significant associations were identified with specific domains of prenatal stress exposure, including negative life events, contextual (socio-economic) stressors, parental risks (e.g., maternal psychopathology) and interpersonal risks (e.g., family conflict). Further, no significant associations were identified when analyses were stratified by sex. Overall, we find little support that prenatal psychosocial stress is associated with variation in epigenetic age at birth within the general paediatric population.

Statistical investigation of climate and landfill age impacts on Kupferberg landfill leachate composition: one-way ANOVA analysis

This study investigated seasonal variations in the physico-chemical properties of leachate from the Kupferberg landfill site, examining the influence of landfill age and climatic factors. Data provided by the Windhoek Municipality during the years 2017 to 2022 facilitated the exploration of critical concerns related to groundwater protection and human health. Guided by two research questions and anchored in hypotheses tested at a 95% confidence level, the study employed Statistical Packages for Social Scientists (SPSS) for analysis.Significant temperature variations were observed across years [F (5, 21) = 4.493, p < 0.05], indicating a substantial relationship between landfill age and seasonal variations in leachate physico-chemical properties. Further ANOVA tests revealed temperature trends impacting leachate parameters, such as organic content and pH. While COD displayed a declining trend with landfill age, inorganic components like Cl- and alkalinity exhibited no distinct age-related pattern.Wet seasons demonstrated higher EC and Cl--mean values than dry seasons, correlating with elevated COD levels. The study underscored the incremental rise in parameter values over time and during the rainy season, attributed to solid waste degradation and rainwater percolation. Notably, climatic conditions significantly influenced seasonal variations in leachate physico-chemical properties (p < 0.05). Based on this outcome, null hypothesis 1 was rejected. The second null hypothesis was also rejected because climatic conditions do influence the seasonal variations in physico-chemical properties. These findings are crucial for emphasizing the need for effective leachate management strategies and providing valuable insights for arid regions. Future research can expand on a national scale, employing one-way ANOVA tests on other landfills in Namibia, and engaging local communities for comprehensive data collection on cross-contamination.

P-681 LH priming before ovarian stimulation in POSEIDON-4 patients: effects on oocyte recovery and post ICSI/IVF pregnancy rates

Abstract Study question Can a seven-day long LH priming treatment preceding ovarian stimulation (OS) improve follicular responses, oocyte yields and ICSI/IVF outcomes of POSEIDON-4 patients? Summary answer A seven-day long LH priming can substantially increase pregnancy rates through specific benefits in different subgroups of POSEIDON-4 patients. What is known already The combination of advanced maternal age (AMA) with diminished ovarian reserve (DOR) has become one of the most relevant and complex topics in the field of reproductive medicine. AMA/DOR patients appear to be refractory to increased gonadotropin dose and may benefit from strategies specifically capable of increasing the population of FSH-responsive small follicles before the onset of ovarian stimulation (OS). Androgen mediated LH intra-ovarian activity stimulates early follicular development. Pre-treatment with LH has been suggested to improve ICSI/IVF outcomes in normal responders but has not been assessed in AMA/DOR patients, despite the prevalence and relevance of this population. Study design, size, duration Retrospective cohort study from 2022 to 2023, including 235 POSEIDON-4 patients stimulated with FSH+LH in a flexible antagonist protocol with oestradiol pre-treatment (n = 129) or with the same stimulatory treatment preceded by a seven-day LH priming (150 IU/day) combined with GnRH agonist downregulation (n = 106). Follicular responses, oocyte recovery and ICSI/IVF outcomes were compared between treatment-groups in overall POSEIDON-4 patients and in a subgroup of patients with AMH &amp;lt;0.75 ng/mL (n = 77/Control, n = 59/LH priming). Participants/materials, setting, methods All participants were POSEIDON-4 caucasian patients aged 35 to 44 years undergoing a single homologous ICSI/IVF cycle in our clinic. Outcomes in the form of percentages were compared with the Fisher’s exact test, whereas differences in continuous variables were assessed with the Wilcoxon sum rank test. A multivariate analysis was performed to control for the interference of unequal variations in maternal age, AMH, insemination method and presence of male subfertility. Main results and the role of chance Patients in different treatment groups did not differ (p &amp;gt; 0.05) regarding maternal age (39.2±2.5 vs. 39.3±2.5), basal FSH serum concentrations (11.0±4.6 vs. 10.1±4.3) and antral follicle count (6.3±3.0 vs. 6.4±3.3, for patients stimulated with and without LH priming, respectively), but patients treated with LH priming presented slightly lower AMH serum levels (0.56±0.3 vs. 0.63±0.3; p = 0.05). Nevertheless, patients treated with LH priming achieved a twice higher clinical pregnancy rate per cycle (19.8% vs. 9.3%; p = 0.02), accompanied by a 40% reduction in cycle cancellation (32.1% vs. 45.0%; p = 0.03) and increased production of viable embryos (transferred fresh + frozen) per cycle (1.22±1.09 vs. 0.94±1.07; p = 0.02) and per oocyte inseminated (48.3% vs. 38.5%; p = 0.01), but did not differ regarding follicular outputs or oocyte yield. The multivariate analysis indicated a robust association between LH priming and pregnancy achievement, independently of potential confounding variables (OR = 2.52; p = 0.02). A two-fold increase in pregnancy achievement was also observed in severely restricted POSEIDON 4 patients (AMH &amp;lt;0.75 ng/mL) subjected to the LH priming (p = 0.05), which in this case was accompanied by higher oocyte yields per cycle (3.3±2.8 vs. 2.2±2.0; p = 0.04) and per pick (3.9±2.6 vs. 2.3±2.0; p &amp;lt; 0.01). Limitations, reasons for caution This study is limited by its retrospective nature and the data may be potentially influenced by the use of different downregulation strategies in the treatment-groups, even if the literature indicates equivalent performance for these strategies in the population under analysis. Wider implications of the findings The present data strongly suggest that a seven-day LH priming preceding OS can markedly improve ICSI/IVF outcomes of POSEIDON-4 patients, while indicating that this strategy benefits in different ways subgroups of this increasingly prevalent patient category. These findings thus represent new valuable parameters for the progress of ovarian stimulation. Trial registration number NA

Growth of indigenous mountainous Indonesian Hibiscus macrophyllus in agroforestry system from various age, seed sources and slopes

In East Java, forest degradation on the slopes resulted landslides during rainy seasons, because of a farming change toward mountainous terrain. Government encouraged community to build agroforestry systems using Hibiscus macrophyllus, therefore this study examined the H. macrophyllus growth on slopes from 15° to 75° in two trials from 6 months to three years, using a variety of eight seed sources. The objectives of this study were to determine the growth responses of H. macrophyllus of various ages on various land slopes in two locations (Mount Kawi and Mount Willis). The trials in two locations were established by Incomplete Block Design (IBD) comprising of 4-6 replications with 50 open pollinated families from 8 seed sources. In both trials, this plant was grown alongside agricultural crops. The General Linear Model (GLM) was used to analyse the growth data from two trials to identify variations in plant age, location, slopes and seed sources. The results showed that growth was significantly different between locations, slopes, seed source and ages. It was found that there was an interaction between site and slope. Height varies, with three times more in Willis (72.6 cm) than in Kawi (26.05 cm). Dramatic changes in slopes, induce more than doubled the height between 75° and 30° slope, which influence considerable wood biomass volume at the end. Increasing growth occurred from 6 months to 3 years i.e.: >7.5 times for height and >6.5 times for diameter. This fast growth at 3 years immediately benefits in ameliorating the mountainside ecosystem. Seed sources perform differently, and considerable variances also occur between families. Comparison between the lowest and greatest seed sources were 40% greater in height and 9% in diameter, indicating that seed sources, as well as family selection, should be considered. The best growth response of H. macrophyllus was found at Willis after 3 years at 30° slope.

Obesity Does Not Negatively Affect Patient-perceived Outcomes After Cervical Disc Replacement for Disc Herniation.

Retrospective review. To assess the impact of Body Mass Index (BMI) on patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) after cervical disc replacement (CDR). BMI may affect PROMs after spine surgery. Primary CDR recipients for herniated disc(s) with BMI <40 were retrospectively selected from a single-surgeon registry. Cohorts were divided into non-obese (BMI <30) and obese (BMI ≥30). Intercohort in-hospital complication rates were compared through independent samples t tests. Pre/postoperative PROMs were compared between cohorts through multivariable regression accounting for demographic differences. Final follow-up dates between patients averaged 11.8 ± 9.3 months. PROMs assessed included Patient-reported Outcomes Measurement Information System-Physical Function, Neck Disability Index, Visual Analog Scale-Neck, Visual Analog Scale-Arm, and the 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire. Improvements in PROMs were evaluated and compared at each follow-up within cohorts through paired t tests. The magnitude of improvement in PROMs from preoperative baseline at 6-week follow-up (∆PROM-6W) and final follow-up (∆PROM-FF) along with achievement rates of minimum clinically important differences were compared between cohorts through multivariable regression accounting for demographic differences. Of 153 patients, 53 patients were noted as obese. Demographic differences included age, prevalence of hypertension and diabetes, and comorbidity burden scores ( P ≤ 0.011, all). No significant variations in in-hospital complications were found. The non-obese cohort demonstrated improvements in all PROMs at 6 weeks and final follow-up periods ( P ≤ 0.005, all). The obese cohort demonstrated improvements in all postoperative PROMs besides 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire at 6 weeks ( P ≤ 0.015, all). After accounting for age and comorbidity variations, there were no significant intercohort differences in raw PROM scores, ∆PROM-6W, ∆PROM-FF, or minimum clinically important difference achievement rates. Regardless of BMI, patients experience significant improvements in physical function, disability, pain, and mental health after CDR for disc herniation. Patients with obesity do not suffer inferior patient-perceived outcomes after CDR. These findings may help surgeons counsel patients in the preoperative period.

Age- and Gender-Related Variations in Cortical Bone Density of the Mandible using Cone-Beam Computed Tomography in Central Indian Population

Abstract Background: “A radiographic imaging technique called cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) enables precise three-dimensional (3D) visualization of hard tissue features. It is the most significant of the recently created dental diagnostic imaging modalities. There is, however, a lack of information on the correlation among mandibular cortical bone radiography density, including age and sex. Hence, the goal of this project was to use CBCT to estimate the cortical bone density of the mandible for age and sex variations in the population of central India. Materials and Methods: A retrospective research involving 300 patients was carried out. Patients arrived from the radiology and oral medicine divisions. The CBCT scans were divided into three age groups: those between the ages of 31–50, 51–70, and those older than 70.” The picture archiving and communication system was used to retrieve the images from the system. We determine the mandibular cortical bone radiography density on the CBCT using regions of interest. Results: The CBCT-measured cortical bone radiographic density was substantially linked by age. In addition, young males (1600 ± 129.63) had considerably higher cortical bone radiography density than young females (1366.95 ± 197.46), old men (1480.70 ± 189.59), and elderly females (962.38 ± 138.50). Conclusion: Mandibular cortical bone density is higher in males than females. Age-related alterations in the cortical bone of the jaw were examined using CBCT. In addition, CBCT analysis of the mandibular cortical bone could help recognize risk factors for declining bone mineral density. CBCT changes in the cortical bone of the mandible with aging. In addition, employing CBCT to assess the mandibular cortical bone could help identify risk factors for declining bone mineral density.

Analysis of THM formation potential in drinking water networks: Effects of network age, health risks, and seasonal variations in northwest of Iran

Various factors influence the formation of disinfection by-products (DBPs) in drinking water. Therefore, it is crucial to study the formation of DBPs and identify the associated influencing agents in water distribution networks (WDNs) to effectively prevent and control the health risks posed by DBPs. This research aimed to examine THM concentrations in the WDNs of Maragheh, Iran, focusing on seasonal variations. It also compared THM levels between new and old WDNs and assessed the health risks associated with exposure to THMs through various exposure routes. The mean concentrations of Chloroform, BDCM, DBCM, and Bromoform were 44.28 ± 18.25, 12.66 ± 5.19, 3.16 ± 0.89, and 0.302 ± 0.89 μg/L, respectively. Therefore, Chloroform was the predominant compound among the THM species, accounting for over 72 % of the total THMs (TTHMs). The average TTHMs concentration in summer (69.89 μg/L) was significantly higher than in winter (50.97 μg/L) (p < 0.05). Except for Bromoform, concentrations of other THM species in the new WDNs were considerably lower than in the old WDN (p < 0.05). The mean lifetime cancer risk (LTCR) rates for oral and dermal exposure routes to THMs were negligible and within acceptable risk levels. However, the LTCR mean values for inhalation exposure routes to THMs in winter and summer were within low (1 × 10−6 ≤ LTCR <5.1 × 10−5) and high acceptable risk levels (5.1 × 10−5 ≤ LTCR <10−4), respectively. Inhalation exposure presented the highest cancer risk among the various exposure routes. The hazard index values for oral and dermal contact with THMs were less than 1. Finally, sensitivity analysis revealed that the ingestion rate and exposure duration of THMs had the most significant positive effect on chronic daily intake (CDI) values and cancer risk. However, further comprehensive investigations are needed to develop effective solutions for reducing and controlling the precursors of DBP formation, as well as identifying suitable alternative disinfection compounds that minimize by-product formation.

Assessment of ocrelizumab impact on neurofilament levels in multiple sclerosis patients

Abstract Background Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a debilitating neurological disease characterized by inflammation, demyelination, and neurodegeneration in the central nervous system. Despite extensive research, the pathology of MS remains incompletely understood. Ocrelizumab (OCRE), a monoclonal antibody targeting CD20-positive B cells, has shown efficacy in relapsing (RR) and primary progressive (PP) MS. Neurofilaments (Nf) are emerging biomarkers of neuroaxonal injury, reflecting disease activity and treatment response in MS. This study aimed to assess the impact of OCRE on serum Nf levels (NfLs) in RRMS and PPMS patients and explore factors influencing treatment response. Methods A prospective study included 23 RRMS and PPMS patients initiating OCRE and 23 healthy controls. Serum NfLs were quantified using ELISA. Statistical analyses evaluated changes in NfLs and factors influencing treatment response. Results MS patients exhibited significantly higher NfLs than controls. OCRE treatment led to a significant reduction in NfLs after one cycle. Age and gender influenced treatment response, with older patients and females experiencing greater NfL reduction. Disability level and disease duration did not significantly affect NfLs reduction. Both RRMS and PPMS patients showed decreased NfLs levels with OCRE treatment. Conclusions In conclusion, OCRE demonstrated efficacy in reducing NfLs levels in RRMS and PPMS patients after one cycle, with potential age and gender-related variations in treatment response. Larger longitudinal studies are needed to further elucidate OCRE’s mechanisms and implications for personalized MS treatment.

Mapping the impact of age and APOE risk factors for late onset Alzheimer's disease on long range brain connections through multiscale bundle analysis.

Alzheimer's disease currently has no cure and is usually detected too late for interventions to be effective. In this study we have focused on cognitively normal subjects to study the impact of risk factors on their long-range brain connections. To detect vulnerable connections, we devised a multiscale, hierarchical method for spatial clustering of the whole brain tractogram and examined the impact of age and APOE allelic variation on cognitive abilities and bundle properties including texture e.g., mean fractional anisotropy, variability, and geometric properties including streamline length, volume, and shape, as well as asymmetry. We found that the third level subdivision in the bundle hierarchy provided the most sensitive ability to detect age and genotype differences associated with risk factors. Our results indicate that frontal bundles were a major age predictor, while the occipital cortex and cerebellar connections were important risk predictors that were heavily genotype dependent, and showed accelerated decline in fractional anisotropy, shape similarity, and increased asymmetry. Cognitive metrics related to olfactory memory were mapped to bundles, providing possible early markers of neurodegeneration. In addition, physiological metrics such as diastolic blood pressure were associated with changes in white matter tracts. Our novel method for a data driven analysis of sensitive changes in tractography may differentiate populations at risk for AD and isolate specific vulnerable networks.

Exploring Growth Patterns of Maurolicus muelleri across Three Northeast Atlantic Regions

Maurolicus muelleri is an important component of mesopelagic ecosystems; nevertheless, we possess only limited knowledge about its biological features. We collected samples of M. muelleri from six scientific surveys between 2019 and 2021 in three geographical areas in the Northeast Atlantic waters (from South to North): the Bay of Biscay, the Celtic Sea, and the Norwegian Sea. Geographical variations in otolith growth, fish age, length, weight, and condition, as well as length–weight relationships and von Bertalanffy growth models (VBGMs), were investigated. Length-weight relationships revealed differences associated with the fish’s origin, paralleling the annual and daily otolith growth. VBGM parameters increased progressively northwards, in accordance with Bergmann’s rules. Fish length was positively related to the otolith radio, and Lee’s phenomenon was undetected. The impact of environmental variables, such as temperature and food availability, is debated, with these considered potential drivers of this variability. Populations may belong to separated units, either genetically or morphologically, representing differences in biological parameters as a signal of geographical divergence.