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The sweet taste of saccharides, such as sucrose and glucose, and other sweeteners is known to result from activation of the TAS1R2/R3 receptor expressed in taste receptor cells (TRCs) of the taste bud. Recent reports have suggested the existence of an additional sweet taste signaling pathway for metabolizable saccharides that is dependent on the activity of glucose transporters, especially SGLT1, also expressed in TRCs. We have investigated the potential contribution of SGLT1 to glucose taste signaling in humans. Concentration-response analysis of glucose mediated changes in membrane potential measured in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells transiently expressing the human SGLT1 (hSGLT1) yielded an EC50 value of 452 μM. The SGLT inhibitor phlorizin inhibited the membrane potential response to 10 mM glucose with an IC50 of 3.5 μM. In contrast, EC50 values of 127 and 132 mM were obtained from concentration-response analysis of glucose taste in vehicles of water or 20 mM NaCl, respectively, by rapid throughput taste discrimination with human subjects. Lactisole, an antagonist of TAS1R2/R3, at a concentration of 1 mM completely inhibited taste responses to glucose concentrations of 250 mM and below. Phlorizin (0.2 mM) and the high potency SGLT1-selective inhibitor mizagliflozin (10 μM) failed to inhibit glucose taste detection measured at peri-threshold concentrations in the rapid throughput taste discrimination assay. A Yes/No experiment using the taste discrimination assay revealed that 0.2 mM phlorizin was discriminable from water for some subjects. Taken together the results indicate that agonist activation of TAS1R2/R3 is sufficient to account for all glucose taste without contribution by an alternative SGLT-mediated signaling pathway. Furthermore, the taste of phlorizin could be a confounding variable for studies evaluating a role for SGLTs in taste. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article navigates the relationship between biomaterials and osteogenic cell adhesion, highlighting the importance of mimicking the physiological response for bone tissue regeneration. Within this spirit is an initial description of the interaction between osteoblasts and osteoprogenitor cells with the extracellular matrix, explaining the leading role of integrins and cadherins in cell adhesion, and the intracellular signaling pathways elicited. Additionally, there is a focus on the strategies of advanced biomaterials that foster osteogenesis by replicating the native environment, taking advantage of these known specific signaling pathways. The final remarks lay on the need for careful consideration of in-vitro and in-vivo complexities in biomaterial development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a complex neurodegenerative disorder significantly impairing cognitive faculties, memory, and physical abilities. To characterize the modulation of the gut microbiota in an in vivo AD model, we performed shotgun metagenomics sequencing on 3xTgAD mice at key time points (i.e., 2, 6, and 12 months) of AD progression. Fecal samples from both 3xTgAD and wild-type mice were collected, DNA extracted, and sequenced. Quantitative taxon abundance assessment using MetaPhlAn 4 ensured precise microbial community representation. The analysis focused on species-level genome bins (SGBs) including both known and unknown SGBs (kSGBs and uSGBs, respectively) and also comprised higher taxonomic categories such as family-level genome bins (FGBs), class-level genome bins (CGBs), and order-level genome bins (OGBs). Our bioinformatic results pinpointed the presence of extensive gut microbial diversity in AD mice and showed that the largest proportion of AD- and aging-associated microbiome changes in 3xTgAD mice concern SGBs that belong to the Bacteroidota and Firmicutes phyla, along with a large set of uncharacterized SGBs. Our findings emphasize the need for further advanced bioinformatic studies for accurate classification and functional analysis of these elusive microbial species in relation to their potential bridging role in the gut-brain axis and AD pathogenesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent developments in the field of behavior analysis have resulted in Board Certified Behavior Analysts® who typically deliver services in clinical settings engaging in activities that require training and experience in organizational behavior management (OBM). The Behavior Analyst Certification Board recognizes the need for credentialed professionals to receive OBM-specific training and currently requires 30 hours of graduate coursework in personnel supervision and management. However, the growth of faculty qualified to teach OBM courses does not match the growth in interest in OBM, which could result in instructors teaching topics outside their scope of competence. To provide OBM instructors with guidance on appropriate content when creating and teaching graduate-level OBM courses, the OBM Network Board of Directors created the Research and Education Committee. The committee was tasked with supporting quality education and research in OBM. This paper presents the committee's initial recommendations for developing a graduate-level OBM course. Specifically, we provide information regarding core and supplemental content, and sourcing the materials needed for teaching these courses. We also outline several other variables that must be considered before finalizing an OBM course. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The demand for teaching Organizational Behavior Management (OBM) is increasing within and outside of the field of behavior analysis. OBM coursework might contain a combination of didactic instruction and experiential learning opportunities covering assessment and intervention strategies used to evaluate and enhance performance, supervision, and address other organizational concerns. Experiential learning opportunities are crucial for building practical competence and include practicing skills in guided class activities, hands-on assignments, and supervised projects. This paper provides examples of instructional activities to facilitate and enhance experiential learning for assessment and intervention in OBM coursework. Each activity includes contextual relevance, necessary preparation, the assignment description, and integration into the broader instructional unit. Ethical, cultural, and practical considerations are also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Modern medical training consists largely of lecture‐based instruction and in vivo or video modeling of specific skills. Other instructional methods, such as teaching with acoustical guidance (TAGteach), have rarely been evaluated. In this study, we compared teaching with tactile guidance, or tactile TAGteach in which a vibratory stimulus is delivered to indicate a correct response, with video modeling and self‐evaluative video feedback to teach four participants two medical skills: simple interrupted suture and endotracheal intubation. The results showed that both instructional methods improved performance. However, three participants met the mastery criterion in the tactile TAGteach condition first, although this instructional method required more time to train the skills. We discuss the implications of these findings for training skills to medical practitioners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Typical household recyclable bin in Australia contains around 60% of waste cardboard. Given the possibilities of developing a construction material, this study conducted a life cycle assessment (LCA) comparing the development of cardboard trusses with © timber trusses, encompassing production to construction. The results show that cardboard trusses offer significant environmental benefits, including a 73% reduction in climate change category, an 83% decrease in ozone-depleting potential, and almost complete avoidance of agricultural land occupation compared to timber trusses, showcasing their sustainability. In both material manufacturing and material transportation, cardboard trusses prioritize climate change mitigation, accounting for over half of the environmental impact. Timber trusses, in contrast, heavily impact land occupation and exhibit climate change dominance. A benefit analysis highlights advantages of cardboard trusses, particularly in reducing land occupation, sustainability, circular economy, and particulate matter formation. The life cycle cost analysis demonstrates an impressive 83% cost reduction for cardboard trusses compared to timber trusses, despite higher labor costs during manufacturing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we study the asymmetric effects of different types of capital-embodied technological change, as proxied by tangible and intangible assets, on relative wages (high- to medium-skilled, high- to low-skilled and medium- to low-skilled workers), relying upon the technology-skill complementarity and polarization of the labor force frameworks. We also consider two additional major channels that contribute to shaping wage differentials: globalization (in terms of trade openness and global value chains participation) and labor market institutions. The empirical analysis is carried out using a panel dataset comprising 17 mostly advanced European economies and 5 industries, with annual observations spanning the period 2008–2017. Our findings suggest that software and databases—as a proxy for intangible technologies—exert downward pressure on low-skilled wages, while robotics is associated with a polarization of the wage distribution at the expense of middle-skilled labor. Additionally, less-skilled workers' relative wages are negatively affected by trade openness and global value chain participation, but positively influenced by sector-specific labor market regulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study employs a qualitative methodology to investigate the implications of Romanian women's migration to Italy for employment in the domestic care sector. The research is based on in‐depth interviews conducted face to face with 20 Romanian women who have resided in Italy for over a decade, with the aim of capturing the details of their long‐term integration processes. These interviews, conducted in 2022, specifically focus on the participants' lived experiences of migration and adaptation within the Italian context. Findings reveal that economic motivations are a primary driver intertwined with aspirations for personal and familial advancement. However, the research also highlights the challenges faced by these women, including precarious employment conditions, emotional strain due to family separation, and complexities of integration within the host society. Social networks and transnational ties emerge as crucial factors influencing both the decision to migrate and the subsequent adaptation process. The analysis underscores the duality inherent in care work migration: While it bolsters the Italian care economy and offers economic opportunities for the migrants, it simultaneously exposes them to vulnerabilities such as job insecurity and potential exploitation. By investigating this migration of care workers, the research contributes to the field of welfare economics by clarifying the economic ramifications of gendered occupational segregation and migration status. Furthermore, it advocates for implementing inclusive labour market practices and policies that prioritize the well‐being of migrant care workers and facilitate their successful integration into host societies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Food allergy (FA) affects approximately 6–8% of young children, with a peak prevalence at approximately one year of age. Tree nut and peanut allergies are among the main causes of anaphylaxis in the world. The gold standard for the diagnosis of FAs is the oral food challenge (OFC). Other diagnostic tests used in the clinical practice are skin prick tests (SPTs) and laboratory tests to measure out the presence of serum specific IgE (sIgE). In this narrative review, we collect the current evidence of the predictive value (PV) of SPTs and sIgE for the outcome of the OFCs. In literature, data are conflicting as to whether increasing sIgE concentration and wheal size in SPTs correlate with OFC outcomes. Most studies included in our review have shown that in vivo and in vitro tests may predict OFC outcomes with variable PV, but data are not conclusive; therefore, the OFC currently remains the gold standard for FA diagnosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: A continuous obstacle that has limited access to and implementation of finger replantation surgery is timeliness, as ischemia time is traditionally considered a crucial factor for success. However, claims that the vitality of amputated fingers decreases after 6 h of warm ischemia and 12 h of cold ischemia are mostly based on theoretical considerations. Methods: Here we present a case of multi-digit revascularization after 72 h of warm ischemia using the microsurgical arteriovenous bypass technique. Results: In the reported case, revascularization was performed after a long ischemic period and showed good recovery of motor and sensory function. Conclusions: We identified significant limitations in the literature supporting time limits of ischemia and recent evidence demonstrating the feasibility of delayed finger replantation. The current treatment approach for amputation injuries often requires transfers or nighttime emergency procedures, increasing costs and limiting the national availability of finger replantation. Changes to finger replantation protocols based on evidence could expand access to this service and improve the quality of care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ulcerative colitis (UC) management encompasses conventional and advanced treatments, including biological therapy and small molecules. Surgery, particularly in the form of ileal pouch-anal anastomosis (IPAA), is indicated in cases of refractory/severe disease. IPAA can lead to acute complications (e.g., acute pouchitis) as well as late complications, including chronic inflammatory disorders of the pouch. Chronic pouchitis, including the antibiotic-dependent (CADP) and antibiotic-refractory (CARP) forms, represents a significant and current therapeutic challenge due to the substantial need for evidence regarding viable treatment options. Biological therapies have shown promising results, with infliximab, adalimumab, ustekinumab, and vedolizumab demonstrating some efficacy in chronic pouchitis; however, robust randomized clinical trials are only available for vedolizumab. This narrative review focuses on the evidence concerning small molecules in chronic pouchitis, specifically Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors and sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor (S1P-R) modulators. According to the preliminary studies and reports, Tofacitinib shows a potential effectiveness in CARP. Upadacitinib presents variable outcomes from the case series, necessitating further evaluation. Filgotinib and ozanimod demonstrate anecdotal efficacy. This review underscores the need for high-quality studies and real-world registries to develop robust guidelines for advanced therapies in post-IPAA inflammatory disorders, supported by vigilant clinical monitoring and ongoing education from international IBD specialist societies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In response to growing public health concerns, governments worldwide have implemented various nutrition labelling schemes to promote healthier eating habits. This study aimed to assess the consistency and effectiveness of these labels in an out-of-home context, specifically focusing on restaurant, hospitality, and institutional food service settings. In total, 178 different dishes from Spain were analysed using labels from the Mazocco method, the UK's traffic light system, the Health Star Rating (Australia), Nutri-Score (France), multiple traffic lights (Ecuador), and warning labels (Chile and Uruguay). The results demonstrated a generally low level of agreement among these labels (K < 0.40), indicating notable variability and a lack of consensus, which could hinder consumers' ability to make informed food choices in out-of-home settings. Nutri-Score classified the highest number of dishes as unhealthy (38%). This study underscores the need for an easy-to-understand labelling system tailored to each country's culinary and socio-cultural contexts to improve consumer decision-making in various dining environments. Future research should focus on developing and testing qualitative methods to more accurately gauge the nutritional quality of cooked dishes in diverse out-of-home settings, thereby enhancing public health outcomes. By addressing the specific needs of the home, restaurants, hospitality, and institutional food services, tailored labelling schemes could significantly improve consumers' ability to make healthier food choices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Anderson–Fabry disease (AFD) is a rare genetic disorder characterized by a deficiency of α-galactosidase A activity and the accumulation of glycosphingolipids in tissues, which leads to multiorgan damage. Cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) and the T1 mapping technique are essential tools for the assessment of AFD cardiac involvement. Moreover, the T1 mapping technique has proved to be a successful non-invasive method for the early detection of patients most at risk for kidney disease. We evaluated the application of MRI in patients with AFD to assess renal involvement. Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of 19 patients (Group A) with histologically proven AFD who underwent routine CMR examinations for the evaluation of cardiac involvement, selecting specific sequences that also showed the left kidney, compared to a control population (Group B, 19 patients) without kidney disease. A Spearman's rank-order correlation was run to assess the relationship between the T1 mapping values of the heart and kidney in Group A and between the kidneys of Groups A and B. Results: There was a positive correlation between the heart and kidney T1 values in Group A (rho = 0.32). More interestingly, we observed a negative correlation between the kidney values of both groups (Group A mean 1284 ± 137 ms, Group B mean 1073 ± 57 ms, rho = −0.38), which is probably related to the presence of microvascular damage and infiltrates in the kidneys of AFD patients. Conclusions: To our knowledge, these results are the first to highlight the key value of T1 mapping in assessing pathological changes and aiding in the non-invasive diagnosis of renal involvement in AFD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mild-to-moderate ulcerative colitis (UC) management is centred on 5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA) derivatives. Whether supplementing 5-ASA with nutraceuticals can provide real advantages in UC-relevant outcomes is unclear. This retrospective multicentre study compared clinical remission, response rates, and faecal calprotectin levels in a two-arm design, including patients treated with 5-ASA alone and those with additional H. erinaceus-based multi-compound supplementation. In the 5-ASA alone group, clinical response rates were 41% at three months (T1) and 60.2% at six months (T2), while corresponding clinical remission rates were 16.9% and 36.1%. In the nutraceutical supplementation group, clinical response rates were 49.6% (T1) and 70.4% (T2), with clinical remission rates of 30.4% (T1) and 50.9% (T2). No significant differences in clinical response rates between the groups at T1 (p = 0.231) and T2 (p = 0.143) emerged. Clinical remission rates differed significantly at both time points (p = 0.029 and p = 0.042, respectively). Faecal calprotectin levels decreased significantly in both groups during the retrospective follow-up (p < 0.05), and this was more pronounced in nutraceutical supplementation patients at both T1 (p = 0.005) and T2 (p = 0.01). No adverse events were reported. This multi-component nutraceutical supplementation offers real-world potential in controlling disease activity in patients with mild-to-moderate UC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study had two aims. First, we aimed to investigate the prevalence of ACB, PCB, and oral habits among a group of Albanian children with ASD compared with a group of children without ASD. Second, we aimed to identify the associations of ASD with ACB, PCB, and oral habits. The sample inlcuded 125 children with ASD (91 males, 34 females) from 2 special schools for children with disabilities and 2 daily residential centers in Tirana. The control group included 125 children without ASD. The relationships between categorical variables were evaluated via the chi-square test. To identify the potential risk factors for ASD, we performed binary logistic regression. No statistically significant differences were found for CB or oral habits between the primary and adolescent dentition stages. A comparison of children with ASD with CB and oral habits revealed a significant difference in the prevalence of PCB. Binary logistic regression revealed that ACB, PCB and oral habits were not associated with ASD. CB was more prevalent among children with ASD in the primary and mixed dentition stages. Oral habits were more prevalent in the mixed and adolescent dentition stages. However, ASD is not a risk factor for CB or other oral habits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rise of the Internet of Things (IoT) has enabled the development of smart cities, intelligent buildings, and advanced industrial ecosystems. When the IoT is matched with machine learning (ML), the advantages of the resulting enhanced environments can span, for example, from energy optimization to security improvement and comfort enhancement. Together, IoT and ML technologies are widely used in smart buildings, in particular, to reduce energy consumption and create Intelligent Energy-Efficient Buildings (IEEBs). In IEEBs, ML models are typically used to analyze and predict various factors such as temperature, humidity, light, occupancy, and human behavior with the aim of optimizing building systems. In the literature, many review papers have been presented so far in the field of IEEBs. Such papers mostly focus on specific subfields of ML or on a limited number of papers. This paper presents a systematic meta-survey, i.e., a review of review articles, that compares the state of the art in the field of IEEBs using the Prisma approach. In more detail, our meta-survey aims to give a broader view, with respect to the already published surveys, of the state-of-the-art in the IEEB field, investigating the use of supervised, unsupervised, semi-supervised, and self-supervised models in a variety of IEEB-based scenarios. Moreover, our paper aims to compare the already published surveys by answering five important research questions about IEEB definitions, architectures, methods/models used, datasets and real implementations utilized, and main challenges/research directions defined. This meta-survey provides insights that are useful both for newcomers to the field and for researchers who want to learn more about the methodologies and technologies used for IEEBs' design and implementation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mitral valve prolapse is a common valve disorder that usually has a benign prognosis unless there is significant regurgitation or LV impairment. However, a subset of patients are at an increased risk of ventricular arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death, which has led to the recognition of "arrhythmic mitral valve prolapse" as a clinical entity. Emerging risk factors include mitral annular disjunction and myocardial fibrosis. While echocardiography remains the primary method of evaluation, cardiac magnetic resonance has become crucial in managing this condition. Cine magnetic resonance sequences provide accurate characterization of prolapse and annular disjunction, assessment of ventricular volumes and function, identification of early dysfunction and remodeling, and quantitative assessment of mitral regurgitation when integrated with flow imaging. However, the unique strength of magnetic resonance lies in its ability to identify tissue changes. T1 mapping sequences identify diffuse fibrosis, in turn related to early ventricular dysfunction and remodeling. Late gadolinium enhancement sequences detect replacement fibrosis, an independent risk factor for ventricular arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death. There are consensus documents and reviews on the use of cardiac magnetic resonance specifically in arrhythmic mitral valve prolapse. However, in this article, we propose an algorithm for the broader use of cardiac magnetic resonance in managing this condition in various scenarios. Future advancements may involve implementing techniques for tissue characterization and flow analysis, such as 4D flow imaging, to identify patients with ventricular dysfunction and remodeling, increased arrhythmic risk, and more accurate grading of mitral regurgitation, ultimately benefiting patient selection for surgical therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Möbius function of the subgroup lattice of a finite group has been introduced by Hall and applied to investigate several questions. In this paper, we consider the Möbius function defined on an order ideal related to the lattice of the subgroups of an irreducible subgroup G of the general linear group GL (n , q) acting on the n-dimensional vector space V = F q n , where F q is the finite field with q elements. We find a relation between this function and the Euler characteristic of two simplicial complexes Δ 1 and Δ 2 , the former raising from the lattice of the subspaces of V, the latter from the subgroup lattice of G. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Helicobacter pylori infection has significant epidemiological relevance due to the carcinogenic nature of this bacterium, which is potentially associated with cancer. When detected, it should ideally be eradicated using a treatment that currently involves a combination of gastric acid suppressors and multiple antibiotics. However, this treatment raises questions regarding efficacy and safety profiles in patients with specific comorbidities, including inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). Eradication therapy for H. pylori includes components associated with adverse gastrointestinal events, such as Clostridioides difficile colitis. This necessitates quantifying this risk through dedicated studies to determine whether this antimicrobial treatment could be significantly associated with IBD relapse or exacerbation of pre-existing IBD, as well as whether it could potentially lead to the de novo onset of IBD. Although the available evidence is reassuring about the safety of eradication therapy in patients with IBD, it is limited, and there are no specific recommendations for this particular situation in the leading international IBD and H. pylori guidelines. Therefore, studies need to evaluate the efficacy and safety profiles of the available antimicrobial regimens for H. pylori eradication in patients with IBD, both in clinical trial settings and in real-life studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ulcerative colitis (UC), an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), may increase the risk of colorectal cancer (CRC) by activating chronic proinflammatory pathways. The goal of this study was to find serum prediction biomarkers in UC to CRC development by combining low-density miRNA microarray and biocomputational approaches. The UC and CRC miRNA expression profiles were compared by low-density miRNA microarray, finding five upregulated miRNAs specific to UC progression to CRC (hsa-let-7d-5p, hsa-miR-16-5p, hsa-miR-145-5p, hsa-miR-223-5p, and hsa-miR-331-3p). The circRNA/miRNA/mRNA competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network analysis showed that the candidate miRNAs were connected to well-known colitis-associated CRC ACVR2A, SOCS1, IGF2BP1, FAM126A, and CCDC85C mRNAs, and circ-SHPRH circRNA. SST and SCARA5 genes regulated by hsa-let-7d-5p, hsa-miR-145-5p, and hsa-miR-331-3p were linked to a poor survival prognosis in a CRC patient dataset from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). Lastly, our mRNA and miRNA candidates were validated by comparing their expression to differentially expressed mRNAs and miRNAs from colitis-associated CRC tissue databases. A high level of hsa-miR-331-3p and a parallel reduction in SOCS1 mRNA were found in tissue and serum. We propose hsa-miR-331-3p and possibly hsa-let-7d-5p as novel serum biomarkers for predicting UC progression to CRC. More clinical sample analysis is required for further validation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: TOMM40 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs2075650 consists of allelic variation c.275-31A > G and it has been linked to Alzheimer disease, apolipoprotein and cholesterol levels and other risk factors. However, data on its role in cardiovascular disorders are lacking. The first aim of the study is to evaluate mortality according to TOMM40 genotype in a cohort of selected patients affected by advanced atherosclerosis. Second aim was to investigate the relationship between Xg and AA alleles and the presence of conduction disorders and implantation of defibrillator (ICD) or pacemaker (PM) in our cohort. Materials and Methods: We enrolled 276 patients (mean age 70.16 ± 7.96 years) affected by hemodynamic significant carotid stenosis and/or ischemia of the lower limbs of II or III stadium Fontaine. We divided the population into two groups according to the genotype (Xg and AA carriers). We evaluated several electrocardiographic and echocardiographic parameters, including heart rate, rhythm, presence of right and left bundle branch block (LBBB and RBBB), PR interval, QRS duration and morphology, QTc interval, and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). We clinically followed these patients for 82.53 ± 30.02 months and we evaluated the incidence of cardiovascular events, number of deaths and PM/ICD implantations. Results: We did not find a difference in total mortality between Xg and AA carriers (16.3 % vs. 19.4%; p = 0.62). However, we found a higher mortality for fatal cardiovascular events in Xg carriers (8.2% vs. 4.4%; HR = 4.53, 95% CI 1.179–17.367; p = 0.04) with respect to AA carriers. We noted a higher percentage of LBBB in Xg carriers (10.2% vs. 3.1%, p = 0.027), which was statistically significant. Presence of right bundle branch block (RBBB) was also higher in Xg (10.2% vs. 4.4%, p = 0.10), but without reaching statistically significant difference compared to AA patients. We did not observe significant differences in heart rate, presence of sinus rhythm, number of device implantations, PR and QTc intervals, QRS duration and LVEF between the two groups. At the time of enrolment, we observed a tendency for device implant in Xg carriers at a younger age compared to AA carriers (58.50 ± 0.71 y vs. 72.14 ± 11.11 y, p = 0.10). During the follow-up, we noted no statistical difference for new device implantations in Xg respect to AA carriers (8.2% vs. 3.5%; HR = 2.384, 95% CI 0.718–7.922; p = 0.156). The tendency to implant Xg at a younger age compared to AA patients was confirmed during follow-up, but without reaching a significant difference(69.50 ± 2.89 y vs. 75.63 ± 8.35 y, p = 0.074). Finally, we pointed out that Xg carriers underwent device implantation 7.27 ± 4.43 years before AA (65.83 ± 6.11 years vs. 73.10 ± 10.39 years) and that difference reached a statistically significant difference (p = 0.049) when we considered all patients, from enrollment to follow-up. Conclusions: In our study we observed that TOMM40 Xg patients affected by advanced atherosclerosis have a higher incidence of developing fatal cardiovascular events, higher incidence of LBBB and an earlier age of PM or ICD implantations, as compared to AA carriers. Further studies will be needed to evaluate the genomic contribution of TOMM40 SNPs to cardiovascular deaths and cardiac conduction diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: There is no consensus on the optimal treatment of bony mallet finger in the paediatric population due to a lack of studies in children. The Ishiguro technique is simple and less invasive, and treatment with K-wire fixation seems to provide better results for extension lag in bony mallet finger according to the literature. A retrospective cross-sectional study with long-term follow-up was performed to evaluate the functional and clinical outcomes of this method in children. Preoperative and intraoperative predictors of outcome were investigated. Methods: From June to December 2022, we evaluated 95 children who underwent extension K-wire block from 2002 to 2012. Eighty-four children were included (mean age 14.8 ± 1.68 years) for a mean long-term follow-up of 11.6 ± 2.3 (8–16) years. Clinical and radiographic features were assessed. Pain and functional outcomes were assessed using Crawford criteria, range of motion (ROM) at the distal interphalangeal joint (DIPJ), loss of extension, and VAS scale. Univariate and multivariate regressions were used to assess which variables might predict the worst outcomes at long-term follow-up. Results: Bone union and pain relief were always achieved. There were no complaints of potential growth impairment or nail deformity. 82.1% of patients showed excellent and good results. Fifteen patients had fair results. Conclusions: Although there are currently no significant differences between surgery and orthosis in adults, the Ishiguro technique is more effective in children when it comes to outcomes in the treatment of mallet fingers. A high percentage of excellent and good results were achieved, and no epiphyseal damage or nail deformity was reported. A strong and significant correlation was found between the worst outcomes and either delayed treatment time or excessive flexion angle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context Nutrition plays a critical role in adolescence. Adolescents are vulnerable to the impact of different factors that distance them from healthy habits, increasing their risk of chronic diseases in adulthood. Qualitative methodologies allow for a better understanding of these factors. Objective This systematic review aims to consolidate qualitative research evidence from the past 10 years to analyze the facilitators and barriers influencing adolescents' eating behaviors. Data Sources Databases searched for relevant studies were Scopus, Medline/PubMed, PsycINFO, and Web of Science. Data Extraction A total of 4176 records were identified. The authors used the GRADE-CERQual (Confidence in Evidence from Reviews of Qualitative Research) quality-assessment tool. Results Fifty articles with qualitative or mixed methodologies were finally included. The most applied techniques were focus groups and semi-structured interviews. The factors influencing adolescents' diets were classified into 4 dimensions: individual, social, community, and macrosystem factors. The most influential were the following—(1) at the individual level: gender (facilitator or barrier), taste and appearance of food (barrier), and lack of time (barrier); (2) at the social level: parents' and caregivers' influence (facilitator or barrier), peer group influence (barrier), and socioeconomic position (barrier); (3) at the community level: school food environment (facilitator or barrier), neighborhood food environment (barrier), household food environment (facilitator or barrier), food insecurity (barrier), and availability and affordability of ultra-processed foods (barrier); and (4) at the macrosystem level: digital tools (facilitator or barrier). Conclusions This systematic review identified several facilitators and barriers influencing eating behaviors among adolescents. Qualitative research provides a rich source of knowledge to inform interventions aimed at improving adolescents' diets. Qualitative research is very useful for collecting researches that help to implement intervention programs that improve adolescent nutrition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent French historiography has been examining the legacy of the 1917 Russian revolutions, with a focus on the social component and the consequences of the revolutions. French scholars have collaborated with various institutions to propose an interdisciplinary perspective on the events, prioritizing social discontent as a driving force behind Russian radicalism. The influence of Marxism and Russian immigrants in France has shaped the debates, but recent historiography aims to move beyond ideological biases. French historians have also shifted towards local and social history, exploring the reactions of the local population and the impact of different nationalities within the Russian Empire. They view the revolution as a continuum of crisis and are working to de-ideologize the myth of the USSR. Overall, French historiography aims to provide a nuanced understanding of the Russian Revolution and its significance in international history. [Extracted from the article]

Selenosugars are gaining growing interest due to their antioxidant efficacy, and their ability to inhibit glycosidases, repair skin tissue or reduce endothelial dysfunction. Among selenosugars, those in which selenium replaces heterocyclic oxygen in a 5-membered sugar were our focus, and their coupling with phenolic compounds appears to be a strategy aimed at producing new compounds with enhanced antioxidant efficacy. In this context, the Mitsunobu reaction has been advantageously explored to obtain trans-p-coumaroyl-1,4-deoxy-2,3-O-isopropylidene-4-seleno-d-ribose, trans-caffeoyl-1,4-deoxy-2,3-O-isopropylidene-4-seleno-d-ribose, and trans-feruloyl-1,4-deoxy-2,3-O-isopropylidene-4-seleno-d-ribose. These compounds underwent removal of the iso-propylidene group, to provide the corresponding hydroxycinnamoyl-1,4-deoxy-4-seleno-d-ribose. All compounds were characterized by Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry (HRMS). This latter technique was pivotal for ensuing cellular metabolomics analyses. In fact, after evaluating the anti-radical efficacy through 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) methods, which underline the massive role of the phenolic moiety in establishing efficacy, the compounds, whose cytotoxicity was first screened in two highly oxidative-stress-sensitive cells, were tested for their wound healing properties towards human HaCaT keratinocytes cells. Caffeoyl- and feruloyl selenosugars exerted a dose-dependent repair activity, while, as highlighted by the metabolomic approach, they were poorly taken up within the cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work shows relevant interactions between cells and drug-delivery systems based on vesicles crucial for therapeutic activity. This interplay drives strategies for the design of new drug-carry. Among the described systems are found liposomes, extracellular vesicles, and hybrid systems. The text details their properties, advantages, and constraints, and eventually, a perspective about the future of these formulations is proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Behavioral Skills Training (BST) is an effective procedure for teaching new skills, like interview skills. BST typically includes instruction, modeling, rehearsal, and feedback. Multiple studies have demonstrated that BST can be used in a web-based context, but no studies, to our knowledge, have extended the literature by using BST to teach online interview skills. This study extended and replicated previous research on teaching interview skills with BST by using this procedure to teach interview skills to college students in a synchronous web-based video format. We evaluated the intervention using a multiple baseline design across targets with follow-up sessions testing for maintenance and generalization. All participant performance improved from baseline to post-training across all targeted dependent variables. Participants also rated social validity measures highly, aligning with previous research. Implications, limitations, and future directions are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While neurological manifestations are core features of Fabry disease (FD), quantitative neuroimaging biomarkers allowing to measure brain involvement are lacking. We used deep learning and the brain‐age paradigm to assess whether FD patients' brains appear older than normal and to validate brain‐predicted age difference (brain‐PAD) as a possible disease severity biomarker. MRI scans of FD patients and healthy controls (HCs) from a single Institution were, retrospectively, studied. The Fabry stabilization index (FASTEX) was recorded as a measure of disease severity. Using minimally preprocessed 3D T1‐weighted brain scans of healthy subjects from eight publicly available sources (N = 2160; mean age = 33 years [range 4–86]), we trained a model predicting chronological age based on a DenseNet architecture and used it to generate brain‐age predictions in the internal cohort. Within a linear modeling framework, brain‐PAD was tested for age/sex‐adjusted associations with diagnostic group (FD vs. HC), FASTEX score, and both global and voxel‐level neuroimaging measures. We studied 52 FD patients (40.6 ± 12.6 years; 28F) and 58 HC (38.4 ± 13.4 years; 28F). The brain‐age model achieved accurate out‐of‐sample performance (mean absolute error = 4.01 years, R2 =.90). FD patients had significantly higher brain‐PAD than HC (estimated marginal means: 3.1 vs. −0.1, p =.01). Brain‐PAD was associated with FASTEX score (B = 0.10, p =.02), brain parenchymal fraction (B = −153.50, p =.001), white matter hyperintensities load (B = 0.85, p =.01), and tissue volume reduction throughout the brain. We demonstrated that FD patients' brains appear older than normal. Brain‐PAD correlates with FD‐related multi‐organ damage and is influenced by both global brain volume and white matter hyperintensities, offering a comprehensive biomarker of (neurological) disease severity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Amyloidosis is a rare infiltrative condition resulting from the extracellular accumulation of amyloid fibrils at the cardiac level. It can be an acquired condition or due to genetic mutations. With the progression of imaging technologies, a non-invasive diagnosis was proposed. In this study, we discuss the role of CMR in cardiac amyloidosis, focusing on the two most common subtypes (AL and ATTR), waiting for evidence-based guidelines to be published. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a challenging condition that involves different physicians, such as general practitioners (GPs), gastroenterologists, and ears, nose and throat (ENT) specialists. A common approach consists of proton-pump inhibitors (PPIs) administration. Adjunctive pharmacological treatment may have a role in the management of non-responders to PPIs. Objectives: We aimed to survey GPs and different medical specialists to investigate the medical approaches to patients reporting GERD symptoms. In addition, we examined the use of adjunctive pharmacological treatments in patients with GERD symptoms who do not respond to PPIs. Design: Retrospective observational study. Methods: A survey was conducted among a large sample of gastroenterologists, GPs, and ENT specialists. Symptoms were divided into typical and extraesophageal, and their severity and impact on quality of life were explored with the GERD Impact Scale and with Reflux Symptom Index (RSI). All therapies administered usually for GERD were investigated. Results: A total of 6211 patients were analyzed in this survey. Patients with typical symptoms were 53.5%, while those with extraesophageal symptoms were 46.5%. The latter were more frequently reported by ENT patients (53.6%, p < 0.0001). The GSI was higher in patients followed by gastroenterologists (9 points) and GPs (9 points) than ENT specialists (8 points), but the RSI was higher in the ENT group (14.3 ± 6.93) than in GPs and gastroenterologist groups (10.36 ± 6.36 and 10.81 ± 7.30, p < 0.0001). Chest pain had the highest negative impact on quality of life (p < 0.0001). Of the 3025 patients who used PPIs, non-responders showed a lower GSI when treated with a combination of adjunctive pharmacological treatments and bioadhesive compounds, than with single-component drugs. Conclusion: Patients with GERD referred to a gastroenterologist had more severe disease and poorer quality of life. The combination of adjunctive pharmacological treatments and bioadhesive compounds seems to be effective in the management of PPI refractory patients. Plain language summary: Gastroesophageal reflux disease management: real-world perspectives from Italian gastroenterologists, primary care physicians and ENT specialists Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a prevalent and chronic condition that affects millions of individuals worldwide, causing significant discomfort and impacting their overall quality of life. In the comprehensive management of GERD, a collaborative approach involving different physicians is essential to address the various aspects of this complex condition. Given the wide range of diagnostic and therapeutic possibilities in clinical practice, we aimed to investigate how GERD is managed in clinical practice by general practitioners and different medical specialists, including gastroenterologists and ears, nose, and throat (ENT) specialists. A total of 6,211 observations were carried out from a survey. The severity and impact of GERD on quality-of-life was higher in patients followed by gastroenterologists and general practitioners than ENT specialists. Non-cardiac chest pain had the highest negative impact on quality-of-life. Of the 3,025 patients who used PPIs, non-responders showed an improved quality of life when treated with a combination of adjunctive pharmacological treatments and bio adhesive compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a highly disabling mental disorder arising after traumatism exposure, often revealing critical and complex courses when comorbidity with bipolar disorder (BD) occurs. To search for PTSD or depression biomarkers that would help clinicians define BD presentations, this study aimed at preliminarily evaluating circulating brain-derived-neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels in BD subjects with PTSD or experiencing a major depressive episode versus controls. Two bloodstream BDNF components were specifically investigated, the storage (intraplatelet) and the released (plasma) ones, both as adaptogenic/repair signals during neuroendocrine stress response dynamics. Bipolar patients with PTSD (n = 20) or in a major depressive episode (n = 20) were rigorously recruited together with unrelated healthy controls (n = 24) and subsequently examined by psychiatric questionnaires and blood samplings. Platelet-poor plasma (PPP) and intraplatelet (PLT) BDNF were measured by ELISA assays. The results showed markedly higher intraplatelet vs. plasma BDNF, confirming platelets' role in neurotrophin transport/storage. No between-group PPP-BDNF difference was reported, whereas PLT-BDNF was significantly reduced in depressed BD patients. PLT-BDNF negatively correlated with mood scores but not with PTSD items like PPP-BDNF, which instead displayed opposite correlation trends with depression and manic severity. Present findings highlight PLT-BDNF as more reliable at detecting depression than PTSD in BD, encouraging further study into BDNF variability contextually with immune-inflammatory parameters in wider cohorts of differentially symptomatic bipolar patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dystrophin (DMD) gene mutations are associated with skeletal muscle diseases such as Duchenne and Becker Muscular Dystrophy (BMD) and X-linked dilated cardiomyopathy (XL-DCM). To investigate the molecular basis of DCM in a 37-year-old woman. Clinical and genetic investigations were performed. Genetic testing was performed with whole exome sequencing (WES) using the Illumina platform. According to the standard protocol, a variant found by WES was confirmed in all available members of the family by bi-directional capillary Sanger resequencing. The effect of the variant was investigated by using an in silico prediction of pathogenicity. The index case was a 37-year-old woman diagnosed with DCM at the age of 33. A germline heterozygous A>G transversion at nucleotide 10103 in the DMD gene, leading to an aspartic acid–glycine substitution at the amino acid 3368 of the DMD protein (c.10103A>G p.Asp3368Gly), was identified and confirmed by PCR-based Sanger sequencing of the exon 70. In silico prediction suggests that this variant could have a deleterious impact on protein structure and functionality (CADD = 30). The genetic analysis was extended to the first-degree relatives of the proband (mother, father, and sister) and because of the absence of the variant in both parents, the p.Asp3368Gly substitution was considered as occurring de novo. Then, the direct sequencing analysis of her 8-year-old son identified as hemizygous for the same variant. The young patient did not present any signs or symptoms attributable to DCM, but reported asthenia and presented with bilateral calf hypertrophy at clinical examination. Laboratory testing revealed increased levels of creatinine kinase (maximum value of 19,000 IU/L). We report an early presentation of dilated cardiomyopathy in a 33-year-old woman due to a de novo pathogenic variant of the dystrophin (DMD) gene (p.Asp3368Gly). Genetic identification of this variant allowed an early diagnosis of a skeletal muscle disease in her son. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Food allergy (FA) affects approximately 6–8% of children worldwide causing a significant impact on the quality of life of children and their families. In past years, the possible role of weaning in the development of FA has been studied. According to recent studies, this is still controversial and influenced by several factors, such as the type of food, the age at food introduction and family history. In this narrative review, we aimed to collect the most recent evidence about weaning and its role in FA development, organizing the gathered data based on both the type of study and the food. As shown in most of the studies included in this review, early food introduction did not show a potential protective role against FA development, and we conclude that further evidence is needed from future clinical trials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Marine bioconstructions are complex habitats that represent a hotspot of biodiversity. Among Mediterranean bioconstructions, those thriving on mesophotic bottoms on southeastern Italian coasts are of particular interest due to their horizontal and vertical extension. In general, the communities that develop in the Mediterranean twilight zone encompassed within the first 30 m of depth are better known, while relatively few data are available on those at greater depths. By further investigating the diversity and structure of mesophotic bioconstructions in the southern Adriatic, we can improve our understanding of Mediterranean biodiversity while developing effective conservation strategies to preserve these habitats of particular interest. The dataset reported here comprises records of benthic marine taxa from algae and invertebrate mesophotic bioconstructions investigated at six sites along the southern Adriatic coast of Italy, at depths between approximately 25 and 65 m. The dataset contains a total of 1718 records, covering 11 phyla and 648 benthic taxa, of which 580 were recognized at the species level. These data could provide a reference point for further investigations with descriptive or management purposes, including the possible assessment of mesophotic bioconstructions as refuges for shallow-water species. Dataset: The dataset is submitted as a Supplementary File. Dataset License: CC-BY [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We study the time evolution of non-linear viscoelastic solids in the presence of inertia and (self-)contact. For this problem we prove the existence of weak solutions for arbitrary times and initial data, thereby solving an open problem in the field. Our construction directly includes the physically correct, measure-valued contact forces and thus obeys conservation of momentum and an energy balance. In particular, we prove an independently useful compactness result for contact forces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Preoperative imaging prior to deep inferior epigastric perforator (DIEP) flap harvest is a common practice to locate perforators and identify aberrant anatomy. Methods We report a retrospective review of 320 consecutive patients who underwent preoperative computed tomographic angiography (CTA) or magnetic resonance angiography prior to DIEP flap breast reconstruction. The locations relative to the umbilicus of preoperatively identified perforators were compared with the selected intraoperative perforators. The diameter of all intraoperative perforators was also measured. Results Across the 320 patient, 1,833 potentially suitable perforators were identified on preoperative imaging. A total of 564 of the 795 perforators selected intraoperatively for DIEP flap harvest were within 2 cm of a predicted perforator, for a rate of 70.1%. The size of the perforator was unrelated to the detection rate. Conclusion We were able to demonstrate a sensitivity of 70% of clinically selected DIEP perforators identified on preoperative imaging in this large series. This contrasts with the nearly 100% predictive value reported by others. Continued reporting of findings and methods of measuring are needed to improve the practical efficacy of CTA and raise awareness about the limitations of CTA, despite its well-documented usefulness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Let F q be the finite field with 푞 elements and consider the 푛-dimensional F q -vector space V = F q n . In this paper, we define a closure operator on the subgroup lattice of the group G = PGL ⁢ (V) . Let 휇 denote the Möbius function of this lattice. The aim is to use this closure operator to characterize subgroups 퐻 of 퐺 for which μ ⁢ (H , G) ≠ 0 . Moreover, we establish a polynomial bound on the number c ⁢ (m) of closed subgroups 퐻 of index 푚 in 퐺 for which the lattice of 퐻-invariant subspaces of 푉 is isomorphic to a product of chains. This bound depends only on 푚 and not on the choice of 푛 and 푞. It is achieved by considering a similar closure operator for the subgroup lattice of GL ⁢ (V) and the same results proven for this group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sustainability is a core topic for all sectors including geotechnical engineering (e.g., design of foundations, earthworks structures, and pavements for major infrastructure and building projects). Despite being comprised of environmental, economic, and social pillars, most sustainability studies in this area have focused on the first. Furthermore, social impacts and the three pillars integration are little explored. As a result, there is a lack of systemic and holistic assessments of innovative geotechnical alternatives. This research advances in this area by performing a complete sustainability assessment and integration of the environmental, economic, and social pillars of two expansive soil stabilization alternatives: (i) sugar cane bagasse ash combined with hydrated eggshell lime alkali-activated by sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and (ii) Portland cement. Individual analyses were carried out to determine the environmental, economic, and social impacts, and the single sustainability index. Alkali-activated binder dosages showed higher impacts in 4 out of 10 environmental categories. For both binders, high-density/low-binder dosages contributed to environmental and economic sustainability as they require lower quantities of raw materials and diesel for materials transportation. The total costs of alkali-activated binder dosages ($189.79 and $154.45) were higher than that of Portland cement ($72.49 and $54.04), mainly due to the high cost of NaOH acquisition. However, the alkali-activated binder dosages implied lower carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and thus lower social cost of CO2. The alternative binder presented a higher positive social impact. The alkali-activated high-density/low binder dosage is the most sustainable soil stabilization strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this review we focused on the putative therapeutic effect of Hericium erinaceus extract in the treatment of pathologic conditions of the lower urinary tract in which intestinal inflammation may play a role. To this aim we reviewed the available evidence on pelvic cross-organ sensitization as a possible mechanism through which intestinal inflammation and dysbiosis may affect the lower urinary tract. Also, we reviewed the clinical and experimental evidence supporting the role of Hericium erinaceus extract as an anti-inflammatory agent highlighting the role of a number of putative mediators and mechanisms which might make this nutraceutical suitable for the management of 'difficult to treat' lower urinary tract disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Clinical management of some cancers requires immunotherapy using immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI). ICI, however, can result in severe gastrointestinal toxicity, including ICI colitis. The main guidelines recommend the use of corticosteroids or some biologic drugs such as infliximab or vedolizumab. However, little space is given to Janus kinase (JAK)–signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) inhibitors. This review summarizes the primary evidence for using JAK-STAT inhibitors in managing ICI colitis. Tofacitinib has been provided in multiple case reports of being able to induce solid clinical remission of ICI colitis without concerns for the oncologic progression of the underlying neoplasm under immunotherapy treatment. Immunotherapy has emerged as a pivotal component in the treatment of various malignancies, encompassing lung, skin, gastrointestinal, and head and neck cancers. The foundation of this therapeutic approach lies in immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI). While ICIs have demonstrated remarkable efficacy in impeding the neoplastic progression of these tumours, their use may give rise to substantial toxicity, notably in the gastrointestinal domain, where ICI colitis constitutes a significant aspect. The optimal positioning of Janus kinase (JAK)–signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) pathway inhibitors in the therapeutic management of ICI colitis remains unclear. Numerous reports have highlighted notable improvements in ICI colitis through the application of pan-JAK-STAT inhibitors, with tofacitinib, in particular, reporting evident clinical remission of colitis. The precise mechanism by which JAK-STAT inhibitors may impact the pathogenetic process of ICI colitis remains inadequately understood. However, there is speculation regarding their potential role in modulating memory resident CD8+ T lymphocytes. The elucidation of this mechanism requires further extensive and robust evidence, and ongoing JAK-STAT-based trials are anticipated to contribute valuable insights. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]