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Objective: To identify dietary self-monitoring implementation strategies in behavioural weight loss interventions.Design: We conducted a systematic review of eight databases and examined fifty-nine weight loss intervention studies targeting adults with overweight/obesity that used dietary self-monitoring.Setting: NA.Participants: NA.Results: We identified self-monitoring implementation characteristics, effectiveness of interventions in supporting weight loss and examined weight loss outcomes among higher and lower intensity dietary self-monitoring protocols. Included studies utilised diverse self-monitoring formats (paper, website, mobile app, phone) and intensity levels (recording all intake or only certain aspects of diet). We found the majority of studies using high- and low-intensity self-monitoring strategies demonstrated statistically significant weight loss in intervention groups compared with control groups.Conclusions: Based on our findings, lower and higher intensity dietary self-monitoring may support weight loss, but variability in adherence measures and limited analysis of weight loss relative to self-monitoring usage limits our understanding of how these methods compare with each other. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diarrhoea is common in enterally fed patients and can impact their nutritional and overall outcomes. This meta-analysis evaluates the potential benefits of fibre-supplemented (FS) feeds on incidence of diarrhoea and stool frequency in non-critically ill tube-fed adults. Databases including PubMed, Embase and CINAHL with full text were searched for randomised controlled trials (RCT) with adults on exclusive tube feeding, published until August 2022. The Cochrane Collaboration's tool was used for quality assessment. Studies with published results on incidence of diarrhoea and stool frequency were analysed using RevMan 5. Thirteen RCT with 847 non-critically ill patients between 20 and 90 years old without diarrhoea at the onset of enteral feeding were included. Study duration ranged from 3 to 35 d. Nine papers investigated the incidence of diarrhoea where intervention group was given FS and control was given non-fibre-supplemented (NFS) enteral feeds. Those receiving FS feeds were significantly less likely to experience diarrhoea as compared with those using NFS feeds (OR 0·44; 95 % CI 0·20, 0·95; P = 0·04; I2 = 71 %). Combined analysis showed no differences in stool frequency in those receiving NFS feeds (SMD 0·32; 95 % CI −0·53, 1·16; P = 0·47; I2 = 90 %). Results should be interpreted with caution due to considerable heterogeneity between study population, assessment tool for diarrhoea, potential conflict of interest and short duration of studies. This meta-analysis shows that FS feeds can reduce the incidence of diarrhoea in non-critically ill adults; however, the effects of stool frequency remain debatable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An annotated checklist of the cestode parasites of Argentinean wild birds is presented, as the result of a compilation of parasitological papers published between 1900 and April 2021. This review provides data on hosts, geographical distribution, sites of infection, location of material deposited in helminthological collections, references and taxonomic comments. A host/parasite list is also provided. During this period, 38 papers were published that gather information about 34 cestode nominal species and 11 taxa identified at generic level, belonging to three orders, ten families and 35 genera. The highest number of cestode taxa was recorded in the family Hymenolepididae, with 12 nominal species and two taxa identified at generic level, followed by Dilepididae, with eight nominal species and three taxa identified at generic level. Of the 1042 species of birds reported in Argentina, only 29 (2.8%) were reported as hosts of adult cestodes. The families of birds with the highest number of reported taxa were Laridae and Anatidae, with 20 and 14 taxa, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Sudden sensorineural hearing loss is considered idiopathic in up to 90 per cent of cases. This study explored the role of blood tests as biomarkers for the diagnosis and prognosis of sudden sensorineural hearing loss. Method: Two researchers filtered 34 papers into the final review. This review was pre-registered on the Prospero database and conducted according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses 2020 guidelines. Results: Raised inflammatory markers are almost universal in sudden sensorineural hearing loss, suggesting an inflammatory or autoimmune process. The most useful biomarkers are neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio, platelet-lymphocyte ratio and fibrinogen level. Focused investigations should be deployed on a case-by-case basis to identify underlying metabolic, infective and autoimmune conditions. Conclusion: A full blood count and coagulation screen (fibrinogen) is recommended in all cases of sudden sensorineural hearing loss. These are inexpensive, accessible and offer as much diagnostic and prognostic information as any other biomarker. There is emerging evidence regarding specific biomarkers for sudden sensorineural hearing loss prognosis, with heat shock protein-70, anti-endothelial cell antibody and prestin demonstrating potential; investigation of their validity through prospective, controlled research is recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, several physical activity-based human–computer interaction (HCI) games which are developed and implemented for the improvement of attention, emotion, and sensory–motor coordination will be presented. The interface and the difficulty levels of these games are specially designed for the use of people with different age groups and disabilities. The games involve physical activities for the fulfillment of some basic HCI tasks which require hand and arm motion for control, such as fruit picking and air hockey, with adaptive difficulty levels based on varying parameters of the games and human performance. In the fruit picking game, several fruit images are moving from top to the bottom of the screen. Objective is to collect apples while avoiding the pears. The player's hand will control the basket that collects the fruits. In the air hockey game, the player will try to score goals against computer-controlled opponent. The player's hand will control the paddle to hit the puck to score or to defend his/her goal area. The player's hand is recognized by Kinect RGB-D sensors in both games. Aim of the adaptive difficulty-based system is keeping the players engaged in the games. The games are tested with a group of deaf children (3.5–5 years) as a part of an ongoing project,1 to decrease the stress of the children and increase their positive emotions, attention, and sensory–motor coordination before the audiology tests. The game performances and the evaluation of the therapists show that the games have a positive impact on the children. The games are also tested with a group of adults as a control group, where a mobile EEG device is employed to detect the attention levels. For this purpose, the adults also attended a third game featuring a maze and controlled with Myo sensors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Contrasting the well-described effects of early intervention (EI) services for youth-onset psychosis, the potential benefits of the intervention for adult-onset psychosis are uncertain. This paper aims to examine the effectiveness of EI on functioning and symptomatic improvement in adult-onset psychosis, and the optimal duration of the intervention. Methods: 360 psychosis patients aged 26–55 years were randomized to receive either standard care (SC, n = 120), or case management for two (2-year EI, n = 120) or 4 years (4-year EI, n = 120) in a 4-year rater-masked, parallel-group, superiority, randomized controlled trial of treatment effectiveness (Clinicaltrials.gov: NCT00919620). Primary (i.e. social and occupational functioning) and secondary outcomes (i.e. positive and negative symptoms, and quality of life) were assessed at baseline, 6-month, and yearly for 4 years. Results: Compared with SC, patients with 4-year EI had better Role Functioning Scale (RFS) immediate [interaction estimate = 0.008, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.001–0.014, p = 0.02] and extended social network (interaction estimate = 0.011, 95% CI = 0.004–0.018, p = 0.003) scores. Specifically, these improvements were observed in the first 2 years. Compared with the 2-year EI group, the 4-year EI group had better RFS total (p = 0.01), immediate (p = 0.01), and extended social network (p = 0.05) scores at the fourth year. Meanwhile, the 4-year (p = 0.02) and 2-year EI (p = 0.004) group had less severe symptoms than the SC group at the first year. Conclusions: Specialized EI treatment for psychosis patients aged 26–55 should be provided for at least the initial 2 years of illness. Further treatment up to 4 years confers little benefits in this age range over the course of the study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-quality evidence from prospective longitudinal studies in humans is essential to testing hypotheses related to the developmental origins of health and disease. In this paper, the authors draw upon their own experiences leading birth cohorts with longitudinal follow-up into adulthood to describe specific challenges and lessons learned. Challenges are substantial and grow over time. Long-term funding is essential for study operations and critical to retaining study staff, who develop relationships with participants and hold important institutional knowledge and technical skill sets. To maintain contact, we recommend that cohorts apply multiple strategies for tracking and obtain as much high-quality contact information as possible before the child's 18th birthday. To maximize engagement, we suggest that cohorts offer flexibility in visit timing, length, location, frequency, and type. Data collection may entail multiple modalities, even at a single collection timepoint, including measures that are self-reported, research-measured, and administrative with a mix of remote and in-person collection. Many topics highly relevant for adolescent and young adult health and well-being are considered to be private in nature, and their assessment requires sensitivity. To motivate ongoing participation, cohorts must work to understand participant barriers and motivators, share scientific findings, and provide appropriate compensation for participation. It is essential for cohorts to strive for broad representation including individuals from higher risk populations, not only among the participants but also the staff. Successful longitudinal follow-up of a study population ultimately requires flexibility, adaptability, appropriate incentives, and opportunities for feedback from participants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although composing has been a significant part of formal classroom music education in England for over 30 years, there still remains uncertainty about how to teach and assess composing in secondary schools. This research investigates the under-researched area of teaching and learning of composing in upper secondary schools in England whereby students (aged 14–18) may opt to study music for a national qualification. Taking a mixed methodology approach, data were collected through a survey of 182 music teachers, interviews with five prominent composer-educators, as well as research with five case study schools involving observations of teaching and interviews with teachers and students. This paper reports on three prominent beliefs about composers that seem to underpin teaching and assessment practices; firstly that composers have innate musical talents; secondly that composing is solely an individual process and finally that students must learn the 'rules' of composing before being creative. This article proposes that these perceptions do not reflect the diversity of composers' creative practices and may result in reinforcing stereotypes and myths about composers that have the potential to disadvantage certain students in the examination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drawing on a 2010 analysis of the reform and costs of adult social care commissioned by Downing Street and the UK Department of Health, this paper sets out projected future costs under different reform scenarios, reviews what happened in practice from 2010-19, explores the impact of the growing gap between need and funding, and explores the relationship between future spending and economic growth. In the process, it identifies a 'lost decade' in which policy makers failed to act on the warnings which they received in 2010, draws attention to the disproportionate impact of cuts on older people (compared to services for people of working age) and calls for urgent action before the current system becomes unsustainable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although there has been significant research on the relationship between alcohol consumption and demographic and psychological influences, this does not consider the effect of social influence among older drinkers and if these effects differ between men and women. One aspect of social influence is social capital. The aim of this paper is to examine whether relational and cognitive social capital are associated with higher or lower risk of alcohol use among adults aged 50 years or older and to assess the extent to which this relationship differs between men and women. To investigate this, data were collected from a cross-sectional questionnaire survey of adults over the age of 50 in the United Kingdom who were recruited from general practitioners. The sample consisted of 9,984 individuals whose mean age was 63.87 years. From these data, we developed proxy measures of social capital and associate these with the respondent's level of alcohol consumption as measured on the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT-10) scale. In the sample, just over 20 per cent reported an increasing risk or dependency on alcohol. Using two expressions of social capital – relational (social relationships) and cognitive (knowledge acquisition and understanding) – we found that greater levels of both are associated with a reduced risk of higher drinking risk. Being female had no significant effect when combined with relational capital but did have a significant effect when combined with cognitive capital. It is argued that interventions to enhance social relations among older people and education to help understand alcohol risks would be helpful to protect older people from the damaging effects of excessive alcohol consumption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: The Resilience Scale for Adults (RSA) is a questionnaire that measures protective factors of mental health. The aim of this paper is to perform a network analysis of the RSA in a dataset composed of 675 French-speaking Belgian university students, to identify potential targets for intervention to improve protective factors in individuals. Methods: We estimated a network structure for the 33-item questionnaire and for the six domains of resilience: perception of self, planned future, social competence, structured style, family cohesion and social competence. Node predictability (shared variance with surrounding nodes in the network) was used to assess the connectivity of items. An exploratory graph analysis (EGA) was performed to detect communities in the network: the number of communities detected being different than the original number of factors proposed in the scale, we estimated a new network with the resulting structure and verified the validity of the new construct which was proposed. We provide the anonymised dataset and code in external online materials (10.17632/64db36w8kf.2) to ensure complete reproducibility of the results. Results: The network composed of items from the RSA is overall positively connected with strongest connections arising among items from the same domain. The domain network reports several connections, both positive and negative. The EGA reported the existence of four communities that we propose as an additional network structure. Node predictability estimates show that connectedness varies among the items and domains of the RSA. Conclusions: Network analysis is a useful tool to explore resilience and identify targets for clinical intervention. In this study, the four domains acting as components of the additional four-domain network structure may be potential targets to improve an individual's resilience. Further studies may endeavour to replicate our findings in different samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The research domain criteria (RDoC) is an innovative approach designed to explore dimensions of human behavior. The aim of this approach is to move beyond the limits of psychiatric categories in the hope of aligning the identification of psychological health and dysfunction with clinical neuroscience. Despite its contributions to adult psychopathology research, RDoC undervalues ontogenetic development, which circumscribes our understanding of the etiologies, trajectories, and maintaining mechanisms of psychopathology risk. In this paper, we argue that integrating temperament research into the RDoC framework will advance our understanding of the mechanistic origins of psychopathology beginning in infancy. In illustrating this approach, we propose the incorporation of core principles of temperament theories into a new "life span considerations" subsection as one option for infusing development into the RDoC matrix. In doing so, researchers and clinicians may ultimately have the tools necessary to support emotional development and reduce a young child's likelihood of psychological dysfunction beginning in the first years of life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Henosepilachna vigintioctopunctata is one of the most serious insect pests to a large number of nightshades and cucurbits. RNA interference (RNAi) triggered by double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) offers a reduced risk approach to control the beetle. Identification of amenable target genes and determination of appropriate life stage for dsRNA treatment are two critical steps in order to improve RNAi efficiency. In the present paper, we identified three vATPase genes, namely HvvATPaseC, HvvATPaseE and HvvATPaseH. We found that the three transcripts were widely expressed in the eggs, first- to fourth-instar larvae, prepupae, pupae and adults. They were abundantly transcribed in the hindgut and Malpighian tubules, in contrast to the epidermis and fat body. Three days' ingestion of dsvATPaseC, dsvATPaseE and dsvATPaseH by the fourth-instar larvae significantly decreased corresponding transcript level by 90.1, 88.9 and 97.2%, greatly reduced larval fresh weight by 28.0, 29.9 and 28.0%, and caused 66.7, 100 and 78.7% larval lethality respectively. Comparably, 3 days' exposure of the third-instar larvae to dsvATPaseC significantly reduced HvvATPaseC mRNA level by 89.5%, decreased approximately 80% of the larval fresh weight, and killed 100% of the treated larvae. Therefore, the three vATPase genes, especially HvvATPaseE, are potential amenable target genes and young larvae are more susceptible to dsRNA. Our findings will enable the development of the dsRNA-based pesticide to control H. vigintioctopunctata. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

People with DSM-5 intellectual disability/intellectual developmental disorder (ID/IDD) or ICD-11 disorders of intellectual development (DID) have multiple healthcare needs, but in many countries these needs are neither recognised nor managed effectively. This paper discusses the negative impact that stigma, discrimination and social exclusion have on the identification and care of persons with ID/IDD in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). It also reviews different models of care for children, adolescents and adults. In discussing some initiatives in LMICs the emphasis is on early diagnosis, with success in providing locally sourced care for affected people and their families. This is where the medical, social and rights-based models of care intersect and is a premise of the person-centred biopsychosocial framework of the World Psychiatric Association's Presidential Action Plan 2020–2023. The plan invites psychiatrists to take a lead in changing the culture of care, as well as medical education, clinical training and research, with a renewed emphasis on workforce integration and service development in terms of community-based rehabilitation strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores the debate between perfectionists and anti-perfectionists in the context of children. It suggests that the most influential and compelling arguments in favour of anti-perfectionism are adult-centric. It does this by considering four leading reasons given in favour of anti-perfectionism and shows that none apply in the case of children. In so doing, the paper defends a perfectionist account of upbringing from the attacks made against perfectionism more generally. Furthermore, because the refutation of the various anti-perfectionist arguments are made exclusively dealing with children, the paper suggests that the perfectionist view of upbringing is compatible with anti-perfectionist restrictions on dealing with adults. This dual view combining perfectionism for children and anti-perfectionism for adults is referred to as restricted perfectionism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is known that the education of significant others may affect an individual's mortality. This paper extends an emerging body of research by investigating the effect of having highly educated adult children on the longevity of older parents in Europe, especially parents with low educational attainment. Using a sample of 15,015 individuals (6,620 fathers and 8,395 mothers) aged 50 and above, with 1,847 recorded deaths, over a mean follow-up period of 10.9 years from the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE), we examine whether the well-established socio-economic gradient in mortality among parents is modified when their adult children have higher educational attainment than their parents. We find that having highly educated adult children is associated with reduced mortality risks for fathers and mothers with low educational attainment, compared to their counterparts whose adult children have only compulsory education. The association is stronger in early older age (ages 50–74) than in later older age (ages 75 and over). Part of the association appears to be explained by health behaviours (physical (in)activity) and health status (self-rated health). Our findings suggest that the socio-economic–mortality gradient among older parents might be better captured using an intergenerational approach that recognises the advantage of having highly educated adult children, especially for fathers and mothers with only compulsory education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We study a parent's demand for gratitude from his child. We view this demand as an intervening variable between the parent's earnings and the incidence of child labor. The demand for gratitude arises from the desire of a parent to receive care and support from his child late in life, while the inclination of the child to provide this support during his adulthood is determined by how the child was treated by his parent during childhood. Specifically, we model the child's gratitude as an inverse function of the intensity of his labor in childhood. We show that when we keep the child's (imputed) wage constant, the intensity of child labor decreases with the parent's earnings. However, when we make the child's (imputed) wage a function of the parent's earnings, then the outcome can be different. With the help of a numerical example, we show that the pattern of child labor related to the parent's earnings can be U-shaped. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To examine the complication rate in adult patients during and after cochlear implantation. Methods: A retrospective chart review was conducted of patients who had undergone cochlear implantation at a tertiary referral centre between 2009 and 2018. All complications and their treatments were categorised as either minor or major, as well as intra- or post-operative. Results: The records of 392 patients with 395 implants were reviewed. The mean follow-up period was 89 ± 65.5 months (range, 6–408 months). The mean age of patients was 46 ± 15.2 years (range, 19–84 years). Sixty-two patients (16 per cent) had minor complications and 31 (8 per cent) had major complications. Conclusion: Although cochlear implantation has the potential for significant intra- and post-operative complications, the actual complication rate is relatively low, and it can therefore be considered a safe procedure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study aimed to determine the efficacy of probiotic gargles compared with placebo gargles on reducing post-tonsillectomy morbidity in adults. Method: This was a triple-blind, randomised, controlled trial and feasibility study. Thirty adults underwent elective tonsillectomy and were randomly assigned to receive either probiotic or placebo gargles for 14 days after surgery. Daily pain scores and requirement of analgesia were measured for 14 days post-operatively. Secondary outcomes assessed probiotic safety and tolerability and the feasibility of the trial. Results: The probiotic group experienced less pain at rest on day 2. However, the amount of oxycodone (5 mg) tablets used was greater in the probiotic group compared with placebo. There were no statistically significant differences in the frequency of adverse effects between both groups. This trial was feasible. Conclusion: This pilot study suggested that probiotic gargles do not reduce post-tonsillectomy pain or bleeding, highlighting the importance of pilot and feasibility studies in clinical research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In adults, the solitary lateral cystic neck mass remains a diagnostic challenge with little solid material to target for cytology and few clues on imaging modalities to suggest underlying malignancy. Method: This study was a retrospective review of patients presenting with a lateral cystic neck mass to a tertiary academic head and neck centre over a 10-year period. Results: A total of 25 of 157 cystic lesions were subsequently malignant on paraffin section histopathology, with the youngest patient being 42 years. In the age cohort over 40 years, 30 per cent of males and 10 per cent of females were diagnosed with malignancy. The ipsilateral palatine tonsil was the most common primary site (50 per cent). A total of 85 per cent of cases demonstrated integrated human papillomavirus infection. Age, male sex and alcohol were significant risk factors on univariate analysis. Ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration cytology and magnetic resonance imaging represented the most accurate pre-open biopsy tests. Conclusion: The authors of this study advocate for a risk-stratified, evidence-based workup in patients with solitary lateral cystic neck mass in order to optimise timely diagnosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Call generalism about children's and adults' wellbeing the thesis that the same theory of wellbeing applies to both children and adults. Our goal is to examine whether generalism is true. While this question has not received much attention in the past, it has recently been suggested that generalism is likely to be false and that we need to elaborate different theories of children's and adults' wellbeing. In this paper, we defend generalism against the main objections it faces and make a positive case for it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Post-extubation dysphagia in critically ill patients is known to affect about 18 per cent of mixed medical-surgical intensive care unit patients. This study investigated the incidence of post-extubation dysphagia in adult intensive care unit patients with coronavirus disease 2019. Method: This study was a retrospective analysis of consecutive intensive care unit patients prospectively screened for dysphagia. Systematic screening of all extubated intensive care unit patients at our tertiary centre was performed using the Bernese intensive care unit dysphagia algorithm. The primary outcome measure was the incidence of post-extubation dysphagia. Results: A total of 231 critically ill adult coronavirus disease 2019 positive patients were included, and 81 patients remained in the final analysis after exclusion criteria were applied (e.g. patients transferred). Dysphagia screening positivity was 25 of 81 (30.9 per cent), with 28.2 per cent (22 of 78) having confirmed dysphagia by specialist examination within 24 hours (n = 3 lost to follow up). Conclusion: In this observational study, it was observed that the incidence of dysphagia in adult critically ill coronavirus disease 2019 patients was about 31 per cent (i.e. increased when compared with a historical pre-pandemic non-coronavirus disease 2019 intensive care unit cohort). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Much of the interest in youth at clinical high risk (CHR) of psychosis has been in understanding conversion. Recent literature has suggested that less than 25% of those who meet established criteria for being at CHR of psychosis go on to develop a psychotic illness. However, little is known about the outcome of those who do not make the transition to psychosis. The aim of this paper was to examine clinical symptoms and functioning in the second North American Prodrome Longitudinal Study (NAPLS 2) of those individuals whose by the end of 2 years in the study had not developed psychosis. Methods: In NAPLS-2 278 CHR participants completed 2-year follow-ups and had not made the transition to psychosis. At 2-years the sample was divided into three groups – those whose symptoms were in remission, those who were still symptomatic and those whose symptoms had become more severe. Results: There was no difference between those who remitted early in the study compared with those who remitted at one or 2 years. At 2-years, those in remission had fewer symptoms and improved functioning compared with the two symptomatic groups. However, all three groups had poorer social functioning and cognition than healthy controls. Conclusions: A detailed examination of the clinical and functional outcomes of those who did not make the transition to psychosis did not contribute to predicting who may make the transition or who may have an earlier remission of attenuated psychotic symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma is usually associated with long-term ultraviolet light exposure. Human papillomavirus 16 is a high-risk mucosal human papillomavirus type, usually associated with anogenital and oropharyngeal cancer. This paper describes the first two cases of human papillomavirus 16 and p16 related nasal cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma. Method: Prospective case series from December 2015. Results: Two young, male, fair-skinned patients had large (greater than 20 mm), rapidly growing, ulcerated lesions of the nasal tip. The tumours were excised, with at least a 6 mm margin, and the patients' noses were subsequently reconstructed. Neither patient had cervical lymphadenopathy or underwent adjuvant radiotherapy. Both patients were registered at the same general practice. The tumours were human papillomavirus 16 and p16 positive; the latter indicated that the virus was driving the disease process. Except for superficial burns, neither patient had other risk factors. Conclusion: Changes in sexual practices have led to an increase in human papillomavirus positive oropharyngeal carcinoma and there may be an associated increase in human papillomavirus type 16 positive nasal cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ObjectiveTo identify and critique tools for the assessment of Ca and/or dairy intake in adults, in order to ascertain the most accurate and reliable tools available.DesignA systematic review of the literature was conducted using defined inclusion and exclusion criteria. Articles reporting on originally developed tools or testing the reliability or validity of existing tools that measure Ca and/or dairy intake in adults were included. Author-defined criteria for reporting reliability and validity properties were applied.SettingStudies conducted in Western countries.SubjectsAdults.ResultsThirty papers, utilising thirty-six tools assessing intake of dairy, Ca or both, were identified. Reliability testing was conducted on only two dairy and five Ca tools, with results indicating that only one dairy and two Ca tools were reliable. Validity testing was conducted for all but four Ca-only tools. There was high reliance in validity testing on lower-order tests such as correlation and failure to differentiate between statistical and clinically meaningful differences. Results of the validity testing suggest one dairy and five Ca tools are valid. Thus one tool was considered both reliable and valid for the assessment of dairy intake and only two tools proved reliable and valid for the assessment of Ca intake.ConclusionsWhile several tools are reliable and valid, their application across adult populations is limited by the populations in which they were tested. These results indicate a need for tools that assess Ca and/or dairy intake in adults to be rigorously tested for reliability and validity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Affordance refers to the properties or designs of a thing that offer the function of the thing. This paper discusses the affordance of Braille music in terms of three notions: mediational means, mastery and appropriation, and focuses on answering the following three questions: (i) How do musicians with visual impairments (MVI) perceive Braille music and what does it reveal about the characteristics and limitations of Braille music? (ii) What are the traits influencing the affordance of Braille music and how does it fit the needs of MVI? (iii) What are the conditions that make Braille music more affordable? To qualitatively investigate these topics, we interviewed nine music teachers and their seven students with visual impairment at a school for the blind in Korea. We found that learning and mastering Braille music is not an easy task, and that blind musicians tend to depend more on auditory input and memorisation. These findings suggest that the current level of development, diffusion and employment of Braille music is not satisfactory in Korea. In order to promote the affordance of Braille music, the adaptability, learnability/usability and availability of Braille music must be enhanced. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Objective: Observational studies reported potential associations between different dietary patterns and the risk of metabolic syndrome (MetS); however, a consistent perspective has not been established to date. The current systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the relationship between a posteriori dietary patterns and MetS by pooling available data.Design: MEDLINE and EMBASE databases were searched for relevant articles published up to July 2015 with no time restriction and with English language restriction. Two independent reviewers completed study selection and data extraction. Random-effects models (DerSimonian-Laird method) were used to pool effect sizes of eligible studies. The potential sources of heterogeneity were assessed using the I2 statistic.Results: Nineteen papers that identified dietary patterns using an a posteriori method were selected and included in the meta-analysis. The 'Healthy/Prudent' dietary pattern was inversely associated with risk of MetS (OR=0·89; 95 % CI 0·84, 0·94, P=0·002). In contrast, the 'Unhealthy/Western' dietary pattern had a significant positive association with risk of MetS (OR=1·16; 95 % CI 1·11, 1·22, P<0·001).Conclusions: Our findings provide evidence that greater adherence to a healthy/prudent dietary pattern is associated with a lower risk of MetS, while an unhealthy/Western dietary pattern is associated with increased risk of MetS. These data suggest that a diet based on healthy food choices is also beneficial for prevention of MetS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Childhood adversity, dissociation and adult attachment have all been implicated in the development of hallucinations or ‘voice-hearing’. Testing psychological models in relation to subclinical phenomena, such as proneness to hallucinations in non-clinical samples, provides a convenient methodology to develop understanding of the processes and mechanisms underlying clinical symptoms. Aims: This paper investigates the relative contribution of childhood adversity, dissociation and adult attachment in explaining hallucination proneness in a non-clinical sample. Methods: Students and staff with no previous contact with secondary care at the University of Manchester were recruited. Participants completed a series of self-report measures: the Launay‒Slade Hallucination Scale (LSHS), the Relationship Scale Questionnaire (RSQ), the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ), the Dissociative Experiences Schedule (DES II) and the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS). Results: As hypothesized, insecure attachment, childhood adversity and dissociative symptoms were correlated with hallucination proneness. Multiple regression analysis, controlling for confounds of age and negative affect, indicated that the RSQ, CTQ and DES II predicted hallucination proneness. Only DES II and RSQ avoidant attachment were significant independent predictors in the final model. Conclusions: This study provides further evidence to support the idea that attachment and dissociation are important psychological mechanisms involved in voice-hearing proneness. Further testing is required with a clinical population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Epistaxis is a common ENT emergency in the UK; however, despite the high incidence, there are currently no nationally accepted guidelines for its management. This paper seeks to recommend evidence-based best practice for the hospital management of epistaxis in adults. Methods: Recommendations were developed using an Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation ('AGREE II') framework. A multifaceted systematic review of the relevant literature was performed and a multidisciplinary consensus event held. Management recommendations were generated that linked the level of supporting evidence and a Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation ('GRADE') score explaining the strength of recommendation. Recommendations: Despite a paucity of high-level evidence, management recommendations were formed across five management domains (initial assessment, cautery, intranasal agents, haematological factors, and surgery and radiological intervention). Conclusion: These consensus recommendations combine a wide-ranging review of the relevant literature with established and rigorous methods of guideline generation. Given the lack of high-level evidence supporting the recommendations, an element of caution should be used when implementing these findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cholesteatoma is a benign but destructive epithelial lesion in the middle ear and/or mastoid. It is hard to translate data from previous research to daily clinical practice. In this study, factors influencing recurrence rates in daily clinical practice were identified. Method: The study included 67 patients who were treated for a cholesteatoma with combined approach tympanoplasty. The average follow-up time was 35 months. Results: The recurrence rate was 23.3 per cent in adults and 45.5 per cent in children. Predictors of recurrence were younger age and a low tegmen. A cholesteatoma in a child and the simultaneous presence of a low tegmen led to recurrence in 82.8 per cent of the patients. Conclusion: Patients – especially children – with a low tegmen have an increased risk of recurrence. It is recommended that ENT surgeons be aware of recurrence in children, particularly in the case of a low tegmen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soft drink consumption has become a highly controversial public health issue. Given the pattern of consumption in China, sugar-sweetened beverage is the main type of soft drink consumed. Due to containing high levels of fructose, a soft drink may have a deleterious effect on handgrip strength (HGS) due to oxidative stress, inflammation and insulin resistance. However, few studies show an association between soft drink consumption and HGS in adults. We aimed to investigate the association between soft drink consumption and longitudinal changes in HGS among a Chinese adult population. A longitudinal population-based cohort study (5-year follow-up, median: 3·66 years) was conducted in Tianjin, China. A total of 11 125 participants (56·7 % men) were enrolled. HGS was measured using a handheld digital dynamometer. Soft drink consumption (mainly sugar-containing carbonated beverages) was measured at baseline using a validated FFQ. ANCOVA was used to evaluate the association between soft drink consumption and annual change in HGS or weight-adjusted HGS. After adjusting for multiple confounding factors, the least square means (95 % CI) of annual change in HGS across soft drink consumption frequencies were −0·70 (–2·49, 1·09) for rarely drinks, −0·82 (–2·62, 0·97) for < 1 cup/week and −0·86 (–2·66, 0·93) for ≥ 1 cup/week (P for trend < 0·05). Likewise, a similar association was observed between soft drink consumption and annual change in weight-adjusted HGS. The results indicate that higher soft drink consumption was associated with faster HGS decline in Chinese adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is widely believed that exposure to sweetened foods and beverages stimulates the liking and desire for sweetness. Here we provide an updated review of the empirical evidence from human research examining whether exposure to sweet foods or beverages influences subsequent general liking for sweetness ('sweet tooth'), based on the conclusions of existing systematic reviews and more recent research identified from a structured search of literature. Prior reviews have concluded that the evidence for a relationship between sweet taste exposure and measures of sweet taste liking is equivocal, and more recent primary research generally does not support the view that exposure drives increased liking for sweetness, in adults or children. In intervention trials using a range of designs, acute exposure to sweetness usually has the opposite effect (reducing subsequent liking and desire for sweet taste), while sustained exposures have no significant effects or inconsistent effects. Recent longitudinal observational studies in infants and children also report no significant associations between exposures to sweet foods and beverages with measures of sweet taste preferences. Overall, while it is widely assumed that exposure to sweetness stimulates a greater liking and desire for sweetness, this is not borne out by the balance of empirical evidence. While new research may provide a more robust evidence base, there are also a number of methodological, biological and behavioural considerations that may underpin the apparent absence of a positive relationship between sweetness exposure and liking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The rising number of dementia diagnoses and imminent adoption of disease-modifying treatments necessitate innovative approaches to identify individuals at risk, monitor disease course and intervene non-pharmacologically earlier in the disease course. Digital assessments of dementia risk and cognitive function have the potential to outperform traditional in-person assessments in terms of their affordability, accuracy and longitudinal tracking abilities. However, their accessibility and reliability in older adults is unclear. Aims: To evaluate the usability and reliability of a smartphone assessment of lifestyle and cognitive factors relevant to dementia risk in a group of UK-based older adults. Method: Cognitively healthy adults (n = 756) recruited through the Dementias Platform UK Great Minds volunteer register completed three assessments of cognitive function and dementia risk over a 3-month period and provided usability feedback on the Five Lives smartphone application (app). We evaluated cognitive test scores for age, gender and higher education effects, normality distributions, test–retest reliability and their relationship with participants' lifestyle dementia risk factors. Results: Participants found the app 'easy to use', 'quick to complete' and 'enjoyable'. The cognitive tests showed normal or near-to-normal distributions, variable test–retest reliabilities and age-related effects. Only tests of verbal ability showed gender and education effects. The cognitive tests did not correlate with lifestyle dementia risk scores. Conclusions: The Five Lives assessment demonstrates high usability and reliability among older adults. These findings highlight the potential of digital assessments in dementia research and clinical practice, enabling improved accessibility and better monitoring of cognitive health on a larger scale than traditional in-person assessments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Evidence of the relationship between fecal short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) levels, dietary quality and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in rural populations is limited. Here, we aimed to investigate the association between fecal SCFA levels and T2DM and the combined effects of dietar quality on T2DM in rural China. In total, 100 adults were included in the case–control study. Dietary quality was assessed by the Alternate Healthy Eating Index 2010 (AHEI-2010), and SCFA levels were analysed using the GC-MS system. Generalised linear regression was conducted to calculate the OR and 95 % CI to evaluate the effect of SCFA level and dietary quality on the risk of T2DM. Finally, an interaction was used to study the combined effect of SCFA levels and AHEI-2010 scores on T2DM. T2DM participants had lower levels of acetic and butyric acid. Generalised linear regression analysis revealed that the OR (95 % CI) of the highest acetic and butyric acid levels were 0·099 (0·022, 0·441) and 0·210 (0·057, 0·774), respectively, compared with the subjects with the lowest tertile of level. We also observed a significantly lower risk of T2DM with acetic acid levels > 1330·106 μg/g or butyric acid levels > 585·031 μg/g. Moreover, the risks of higher acetic and butyric acid levels of T2DM were 0·007 (95 % CI: 0·001, 0·148), 0·005 (95 % CI: 0·001, 0·120) compared with participants with lower AHEI-2010 scores (all P < 0·05). Acetate and butyrate levels may be important modifiable beneficial factors affecting T2DM in rural China. Improving dietary quality for body metabolism balance should be encouraged to promote good health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Whole-body tissue protein turnover is regulated, in part, by the postprandial rise in plasma amino acid concentrations, although minimal data exist on the amino acid response following non-animal-derived protein consumption. We hypothesised that the ingestion of novel plant- and algae-derived dietary protein sources would elicit divergent plasma amino acid responses when compared with vegan- and animal-derived control proteins. Twelve healthy young (male (m)/female (f): 6/6; age: 22 ± 1 years) and 10 healthy older (m/f: 5/5; age: 69 ± 2 years) adults participated in a randomised, double-blind, cross-over trial. During each visit, volunteers consumed 30 g of protein from milk, mycoprotein, pea, lupin, spirulina or chlorella. Repeated arterialised venous blood samples were collected at baseline and over a 5-h postprandial period to assess circulating amino acid, glucose and insulin concentrations. Protein ingestion increased plasma total and essential amino acid concentrations (P < 0·001), to differing degrees between sources (P < 0·001), and the increase was further modulated by age (P < 0·001). Postprandial maximal plasma total and essential amino acid concentrations were highest for pea (2828 ± 106 and 1480 ± 51 µmol·l−1) and spirulina (2809 ± 99 and 1455 ± 49 µmol·l−1) and lowest for chlorella (2053 ± 83 and 983 ± 35 µmol·l−1) (P < 0·001), but were not affected by age (P > 0·05). Postprandial total and essential amino acid availabilities were highest for pea, spirulina and mycoprotein and lowest for chlorella (all P < 0·05), but no effect of age was observed (P > 0·05). The ingestion of a variety of novel non-animal-derived dietary protein sources elicits divergent plasma amino acid responses, which are further modulated by age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Contraction of want to to wanna is sometimes possible (e.g., Who do you want to/wanna stay with ___ ?), but sometimes impossible (e.g., Who do you want ___ to/*wanna stay?). This contrast is attributable to the grammatical constraint that a wh -trace blocks the contraction of want and to. Most first language (L1) and second language (L2) acquisition studies testing learner knowledge of this constraint have used elicited production tasks and focused on adult participants, with inconsistent results. Using a child-friendly acceptability judgment task, the current study shows that children as young as 3;11 and both child and adult L2 learners have target-like knowledge of the constraint on wanna contraction. This result is in line with the position that L1 acquisition, child L2 acquisition, and adult L2 acquisition are qualitatively similar. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Obesity can increase the risk of postoperative complications. Despite increased demand for patients living with obesity to lose weight prior to common surgical procedures, the impact of intentional weight loss on surgical outcomes is largely unknown. We aimed to conduct a pilot study to assess the feasibility of a full-scale randomised controlled trial (RCT) to examine the effect of preoperative dietitian-led Very Low Calorie Diet (VLCD) Clinic on surgical outcomes in gynaecology and general surgeries. Between August 2021 and January 2023, a convenience sample of adults living with obesity (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2) awaiting gynaecology, laparoscopic cholecystectomy and ventral hernia repair procedures were randomised to dietitian-led VLCD (800–1000 kcal using meal replacements and allowed foods), or control (no dietary intervention), 2–12 weeks preoperatively. Primary outcome was feasibility (recruitment, adherence, safety, attendance, acceptability and quality of life (QoL)). Secondary outcomes were anthropometry and 30-d postoperative outcomes. Outcomes were analysed as intention-to-treat. Fifty-one participants were recruited (n 23 VLCD, n 28 control), mean 48 (sd 13) years, 86 % female, and mean BMI 35·8 (sd 4·6) kg/m2. Recruitment was disrupted by COVID-19, but other thresholds for feasibility were met for VLCD group: high adherence without unfavourable body composition change, high acceptability, improved pre/post QoL (22·1 ± 15 points, < 0·001), with greater reductions in weight (–5·5 kg VLCD v. −0·9 kg control, P < 0·05) waist circumference (–6·6 cm VLCD v. +0·6 control, P < 0·05) and fewer 30-d complications (n 4/21) than controls (n 8/22) (P > 0·05). The RCT study design was deemed feasible in a public hospital setting. The dietitian-led VLCD resulted in significant weight loss and waist circumference reduction compared with a control group, without unfavourable body composition change and improved QoL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Assistive technology (AT) is defined in this paper as 'any device or system that allows an individual to perform a task that they would otherwise be unable to do, or increases the ease and safety with which the task can be performed' (Cowan and Turner-Smith 1999). Its importance in contributing to older people's independence and autonomy is increasingly recognised, but there has been little research into the viability of extensive installations of AT. This paper focuses on the acceptability of AT to older people, and reports one component of a multi-disciplinary research project that examined the feasibility, acceptability, costs and outcomes of introducing AT into their homes. Sixty-seven people aged 70 or more years were interviewed in-depth during 2001 to find out about their use and experience of a wide range of assistive technologies. The findings suggest a complex model of acceptability, in which a `felt need' for assistance combines with 'product quality'. The paper concludes by considering the tensions that may arise in the delivery of acceptable assistive technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Compensatory strategies (CS) can assist in supporting everyday memory and functional independence. Digital compensatory strategies (e.g., calendar and notes apps) are being used more by older adults, but their effectiveness compared to paper-based strategies has been questioned due to their novelty and potential suitability. This study examined whether digital and non-digital strategies vary in quality and lead to accuracy differences in carrying out a set of real-world prospective memory (PM) tasks. Participants and Methods: Seventy community-dwelling older adults (Mage= 70.80, SD = 7.87) completed two testing sessions remotely from home via Zoom. Participants were presented four real-world PM tasks (packing for overnight trip, creating physical activity summary, paying bill by due date, and calling lab to leave message) and were encouraged to use their typical CS to support task completion. The type and quality of CS, as well as accuracy of PM task completion, were assessed using lab-developed coding schemas. Quality scores were on a 0-3 point scale per task step (maximum total score = 63), and accuracy scores were on a 0-4 point scale (maximum score = 16). Participants were differentiated into two groups: those who used at least one digital CS (40 participants) and those who did not use digital CS (30 participants). T-tests were examined for group differences in number of CS utilized, CS quality, and PM accuracy. Within each group, correlations between CS quality and PM accuracy were conducted. Group comparisons were also conducted for demographics, cognitive test performances, and questionnaires. Results: The technology group (M = 13.90, SD = 5.43) utilized significantly more strategies than the non-technology group (M = 9.50, SD = 4.12), t(68) = -3.71, p <.05, d = 0.91, and the technology group's strategies (M = 42.48, SD = 10.47) were significantly higher quality than the non-technology groups (M = 33.80, SD = 13.02), t(68) = -3.09, p <.05, d = 0.73. However, the technology (M = 12.30, SD = 2.48) and non-technology (m = 11.87, SD = 3.16) groups completed the four PM tasks with equivalent accuracy, p >.05. Correlational analyses revealed that higher quality strategies were associated with better PM performance for both the technology (r =.67, p <.001) and the non-technology group (r =.71, p <.001). Although the technology group reported higher comfort with technology, both groups reported comparable levels of quality of life and functional independence and performed similarly on cognitive tests. The technology group trended towards being younger and having a higher level of global cognitive status (p =.07), but there were no group differences in education level or premorbid verbal ability. Conclusions: Digital compensatory strategies resulted in higher CS quality scores and more strategies used, but there was no significant difference in PM accuracy scores between digital and non-digital CS. Regardless of technology use, using high quality CS supported real-world PM performance. Interventions that focus on improving the quality of compensatory strategies being utilized by older adults may enhance everyday functioning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bodenhorn et al. (2017) have sparked considerable controversy by arguing that the fall in adult stature observed in military samples in the United States and Britain during industrialization was a figment of selection on unobservables in the samples. While subsequent papers have questioned the extent of the bias (Komlos and A'Hearn 2019; Zimran 2019), there is renewed concern about selection bias in historical anthropometric datasets. Therefore, this article extends Bodenhorn et al.'s discussion of selection bias on unobservables to sources of children's growth, specifically focusing on biases that could distort the age pattern of growth. Understanding how the growth pattern of children has changed is important because these changes underpinned the secular increase in adult stature and are related to child stunting observed in developing countries today. However, there are significant sources of unobserved selection in historical datasets containing children's and adolescents' height and weight. This article highlights, among others, three common sources of bias: (1) positive selection of children into secondary school in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries; (2) distorted height by age profiles created by age thresholds for enlistment in the military; and (3) changing institutional ecology that determines to which institutions children are sent. Accounting for these biases adjusts the literature in two ways: evidence of a strong pubertal growth spurt in the nineteenth century is weaker than formerly acknowledged and some long-run analyses of changes in children's growth are too biased to be informative, especially for Japan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The association between sarcopenia and kidney function remains poorly investigated. We aimed to evaluate the associations between sarcopenia status and kidney function (rapid kidney function decline and chronic kidney disease (CKD)) in middle-aged and older Chinese population. A total of 9375 participants from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study 2011 were included in the cross-sectional analyses. A total of 5864 participants with eGFRcr-cys ≥ 60 ml/min per 1·73 m2 at baseline were included in the longitudinal analyses and were followed up in 2015. Sarcopenia status was defined according to the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia 2019 criteria. In the cross-sectional analyses, possible sarcopenia and sarcopenia were significantly associated with an increased risk of CKD. During the 4 years of follow-up, 359 (6·12 %) participants experienced rapid decline in kidney function and 126 (2·15 %) participants developed CKD. After multivariable adjustment of baseline eGFRcr-cys level and other risk factors, possible sarcopenia (OR, 1·33; 95 % CI 1·01, 2·12) and sarcopenia (OR, 1·49; 95 % CI 1·05, 2·12) were associated with an increased risk of primary outcome (composite of rapid decline in kidney function (annualised decline in eGFRcr-cys ≥ 5 ml/min per 1·73 m2) and progression to CKD (eGFRcr-cys < 60 ml/min per 1·73 m2). Individuals with low muscle mass or low muscle strength alone also had an increased risk of rapid decline in kidney function and progression to CKD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Backchannels (BCs; listener signals such as 'mmhm' or 'okay') are a ubiquitous and essential feature of spoken interaction. They are used by listeners predominantly to support the ongoing turn of their interlocutor and to signal understanding and agreement. Listeners seem to be highly sensitive to the exact realisations of BCs and to judge deviations from typical forms as negative. Very little is known about the use of BCs by speakers diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). In dialogue recordings of 28 German adults in two groups of disposition-matched dyads (i.e., both interlocutors were either autistic or non-autistic), we found that the ASD group was characterised by (1) a lower rate of BCs per minute (particularly in the early stages of conversation), (2) less diversity in the lexical realisation of BCs and (3) a less diverse and flexible mapping of different intonation contours to different BC types. We interpret these results as reflecting more general characteristics of autistic as compared to non-autistic individuals, namely different strategies in signalling attention towards an interlocutor and less flexible behaviour in social interaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adult obesity disproportionately affects lower socio-economic groups in high-income countries and perpetuates health inequalities, imposing health and socio-economic burden. This review evaluates the effectiveness of behavioural strategies in reducing weight and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risks among low-income groups based in high-income countries. We searched major databases for randomised controlled trials published between 1 November 2011 and 1 May 2023. Meta-analyses and subgroup analyses were undertaken to analyse the pooled and individual effects of behavioural strategies. Cochrane Risk of bias (RoB 2·0) tool and Grades of Recommendation, Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) criteria were used to assess the quality and certainty of evidence. Fourteen trials (3618 adults, aged 40·2 ± 9·7 years with BMI 33·6 ± 2·8 kg/m2) and nine unique interventions were identified. Three trials with high RoB were omitted. Meta-analysis favoured interventions, demonstrating significant reductions in body weight (MD: −1·56 kg, (95 % CI –2·09, −1·03)) and HbA1c (MD: −0·05 %, (95 % CI − 0·10, −0·001)) at intervention end. Sub-group analysis showed no differences in waist circumference, blood pressure or serum lipids. Financial incentives and interactive feedback produced greatest amounts of weight losses ≥ 2 kg (GRADE: moderate). Behavioural strategies are effective weight loss interventions among lower socio-economic groups living in high-income nations. However, the impact on CVD risk remains unclear. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]