Background Gratitude interventions have shown various psychological benefits, including enhanced motivation in academic settings. However, their impact on work engagement - a key factor in employee well-being and organizational performance - remains underexplored. This study examined whether a 12-day online gratitude journaling intervention enhances work engagement and increases awareness of job resources, based on the Job Demands-Resources (JD-R) Model. Methods A total of 100 Japanese employees (mean age = 41.0 ± 5.2 years, evenly split by gender) were randomly assigned to a gratitude journal group or a daily life journal group (control). Participants in the gratitude journal group recorded things they felt grateful for, while the control group documented daily occurrences. Work engagement was assessed using the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale (UWES), alongside measures of work motivation, gratitude disposition, perspective-taking, life satisfaction, and psychological well-being. Journal entries were analyzed using word frequency analysis and correspondence analysis to examine whether gratitude journaling enhanced awareness of job resources. Results Participants in the gratitude journal group exhibited a significant increase in work engagement (total score and absorption dimension) post-intervention, supporting the idea that gratitude journaling enhances engagement. Journal content analysis revealed that gratitude journaling was associated with greater recognition of job resources, such as social support, suggesting a mechanism through which gratitude influences work engagement. Both groups showed increases in gratitude disposition, life satisfaction, and competitive-oriented work motivation, suggesting possible broader journaling benefits. In contrast, the daily life journal group experienced temporary declines in purpose in life and autonomy. Conclusions This study provides experimental evidence that gratitude journaling enhances work engagement by increasing awareness of job resources, integrating gratitude into the JD-R Model. The findings suggest that gratitude must be actively cultivated rather than assumed to arise naturally. Given its accessibility and low cost, gratitude journaling offers a promising tool for organizations to foster employee engagement. Future research should examine its long-term effects and evaluate its applicability across diverse cultural contexts.

Background Circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA) in liquid biopsies has emerged as a powerful biomarker in cancer patients. Its relative abundance in cell-free DNA serves as a proxy for the overall tumour burden. Here we present GeneBits, a method for cancer therapy monitoring and relapse detection. GeneBits employs tumour-informed enrichment panels targeting 20–100 somatic single-nucleotide variants (SNVs) in plasma-derived DNA, combined with ultra-deep sequencing and unique molecular barcoding. In conjunction with the newly developed computational method umiVar, GeneBits enables accurate detection of molecular residual disease and early relapse identification. Results To assess the performance of GeneBits and umiVar, we conducted benchmarking experiments using three different commercial cell-free DNA reference standards. These standards were tested with targeted next-generation sequencing (NGS) workflows from both IDT and Twist, allowing us to evaluate the consistency and accuracy of our approach across different oligo-enrichment strategies. GeneBits achieved comparable depth of coverage across all target sites, demonstrating robust performance independent of the enrichment kit used. For duplex reads with ≥ 4x UMI-family size, umiVar achieved exceptionally low error rates, ranging from 7.4×10-7 to 7.5×10-5. Even when including mixed consensus reads (duplex & simplex), error rates remained low, between 6.1×10-6 and 9×10-5. Furthermore, umiVar enabled variant detection at a limit of detection as low as 0.0017%, with no false positive calls in mutation-free reference samples. In a reanalysed melanoma cohort, variant allele frequency kinetics closely mirrored imaging results, confirming the clinical relevance of our method. Conclusion GeneBits and umiVar enable highly accurate therapy and relapse monitoring in plasma as well as identification of molecular residual disease within four weeks of tumour surgery or biopsy. By leveraging small, tumour-informed sequencing panels, GeneBits provides a targeted, cost-effective, and scalable approach for ctDNA-based cancer monitoring. The benchmarking experiments using multiple commercial cell-free DNA reference standards confirmed the high sensitivity and specificity of GeneBits and umiVar, making them valuable tools for precision oncology. UmiVar is available at https://bit.ly/4p116dS .

The dairy industry is a cornerstone of global food security and nutrition, yet it faces significant challenges due to the rising incidence of antibiotic ...

Background Glycated albumin (GA) is a useful marker for short-term glycemic control, but its levels may be influenced by body composition. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the impact of increasing body mass index (BMI) on GA levels in healthy individuals. Methods This cross-sectional study included healthy individuals with normal and elevated BMI. Individuals with diabetes mellitus, pregnancy, acute infection, a history of cardiovascular events, malignancy, chronic liver disease, nephrotic syndrome, thyroid dysfunction, anemia, morbid obesity (BMI ≥ 40 kg/m²), or any other condition known to affect GA levels were excluded. Anthropometric and biochemical measurements were obtained and compared between normal and elevated BMI groups. Statistical analyses were performed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 22.0. Results A total of 52 individuals with elevated BMI and 49 with normal BMI were included in the analysis. Individuals with elevated BMI had significantly lower levels of GA (42.8 ± 7.2 vs. 51.3 ± 6.0, p < 0.001), while levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) were markedly higher (0.6 ± 0.4 vs. 0.4 ± 0.2, p < 0.001 and 13.5 ± 12.3 vs. 8.3 ± 7.5, p = 0.002; respectively). BMI showed a moderate inverse association with GA (r=-0.583, p < 0.001). Moreover, BMI was positively associated with CRP (r = 0.366, p < 0.001) and ESR (r = 0.299, p = 0.002). In addition, GA levels exhibited negative correlations with CRP (r=-0.401, p < 0.001) and ESR (r=-0.384, p < 0.001). Multivariate regression analysis confirmed that BMI was independently associated with GA levels (B=-2.727, 95% CI:-5.077 to -0.377, p = 0.024). Conclusion Our results suggest a potential inverse association between BMI and GA levels. Clinical trial number Not applicable.

Background Recent studies have shown that the maternal gut microbiota can regulate placental growth, particularly the transport region, in association with fetal growth. However, the specific role of certain microorganisms in modulating the hormonal production of the placenta, which is critical for supporting fetal development and maintaining a healthy pregnancy, remains largely unexplored. In this context, the objective of this study is to determine whether the maternal colonisation with the early life gut bacterium Bifidobacterium breve UCC2003 regulates placental endocrine function. Methods Pregnant germ-free mice were colonized with or without Bifidobacterium breve UCC2003 (BIF) during pregnancy. The endocrine region of the placenta (junctional zone, Jz) was collected to assess its metabolic profile using metabolomics, the expression of key nutrient uptake genes, hormones and synthetic genes by qPCR, and proteome using LC-MS/MS. Results BIF colonised dams had increased lactate and taurine concentrations in the placental Jz. BIF presence was also associated with upregulated expression of nutrient carriers, particularly those involved in large neutral amino acid and monocarboxylate uptake (e.g., Slc7a8 and Slc16a4). Additionally, key hormones, such as prolactins and pregnancy-specific glycoproteins, were upregulated. The Jz proteome was changed in BIF colonised dams, with over 400 proteins dysregulated. Pathway analysis revealed more than 150 biological processes were altered, including transcriptional activity, protein synthesis, cell cycle progression, and metabolic regulation. Proteins regulated by BIF in the placental Jz were correlated with fetal growth and nutrient levels (namely glucose). Notably, maternal-associated BIF reduced the number of fetal resorptions (early fetal loss). Conclusions In germ-free mice, maternal-associated gut Bifidobacterium breve UCC2003 regulates placental endocrine capacity, by altering its metabolic profile and ability to produce endocrine factors. This study provides the first clear evidence that the maternal gut microbiota not only influences placental transport function, but also regulates its endocrine outputs. Graphical Abstract

Aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage is a critical condition with high case-fatality and lasting impacts on survivors. Acute events that are the direct result of aneurysm rupture, such as acute ischemia, elevated intracranial pressure, cerebral edema, seizures, and hydrocephalus, lead to early brain injury. A delayed cascade of processes, including a prominent systemic inflammatory response, may lead to secondary brain injury and delayed cerebral ischemia, which often further impairs recovery. Systemic complications, including cardiac and pulmonary dysfunction, fever, and electrolyte imbalances, arise in the interplay between early and secondary brain injury and challenge the clinical course. Early management focuses on the prevention of rebleeding mainly through aneurysm securement, amelioration of early brain injury through cerebrospinal fluid drainage, control of intracranial pressure, and organ support to avoid or attenuate secondary brain injury. Nimodipine remains the only pharmacological agent shown to reduce delayed cerebral ischemia, and lumbar drainage of cerebrospinal fluid to reduce subarachnoid blood may improve outcome. Management strategies for hemodynamic interventions, seizures, intracranial pressure control, large artery vasospasm, and electrolytes remain consensus-based and with large variation in practice. Several advances in understanding inflammation and delayed cerebral ischemia, as well as in monitoring and interventions hold promise, but robust trials are needed to refine protocols and improve patient recovery. Understanding and mitigating the cascade of damage from rupture to recovery is essential to reduce the burden of this devastating condition. In this review, we appraise the current understanding of the pathophysiology of post-rupture complications as well as scientific and management data, with a focus on recent advances.

Background Liquid biopsy assays using cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) can revolutionize care for children with central nervous system (CNS) tumors by enabling precise monitoring of therapeutic responses and detecting recurrence or measurable residual disease (MRD). These assays can detect cell-free, circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) via somatic alterations, though accurately measuring low-abundance ctDNA in CSF is challenging. Methods Our research focused on the optimization of next-generation sequencing library preparation from cell-free DNA (cfDNA), evaluating four commercial kits to address the low nucleic acid yield in CSF-derived cfDNA. The selected kit minimized false positives and detected somatic variants at 5% variant allele frequency using 0.1 ng input of synthetic cfDNA, suitable for low-volume CSF samples. Results We then applied our optimized workflow to six children with CNS tumors using a personalized hybrid-capture sequencing strategy (“MRD4U”), in which individualized panels were designed based on each patient’s tumor sequencing. Using MRD4U, we identified ctDNA in two samples, even though neither patient had radiographic or clinical evidence of disease at the time of liquid biopsy. Notably, one ctDNA-positive patient developed radiographic recurrence four months later, demonstrating the assay’s potential to detect molecular relapse ahead of conventional clinical measures. Conclusions These findings demonstrate applicability of our personalized MRD4U assay in early detection of disease recurrence. Unlike non-targeted or tumor-agnostic CSF liquid biopsy approaches, MRD4U leverages patient-specific genomic information to enable sensitive, tumor-informed monitoring that can be deployed across a wide range of pediatric CNS tumors. Our approach is broadly applicable to any tumor type with existing genomic data, enabling ctDNA detection across diverse diagnoses. Ultimately, this strategy may inform clinical decision-making and enable earlier therapeutic intervention.

Background Chemotherapy remains the cornerstone of cancer treatment despite its well-documented challenges, including toxic side effects and drug resistance. Here, we demonstrate that a novel, highly toxic, daunosamine-modified derivative of daunorubicin (2-pyrrolino-daunorubicin, PyDau) can be safely administered to mice when encapsulated in liposome. Methods PyDau was synthesized from daunorubicin in a one-step reaction. Its increased in vitro cytotoxicity was confirmed across 42 human cell lines representing 12 cancer types, including multidrug resistant cells. The activity profile of this new derivative was analyzed in the context of 13 commonly used cancer drugs across a panel of lymphoblast cell lines missing individual components of DNA-repair enzymes. To enable in vivo application, PyDau was encapsulated in pegylated liposome, resulting in liposomal PyDau (LiPyDau). In vivo efficacy of LiPyDau was evaluated in three allograft models (melanoma, breast, lung), a xenograft model (uterine sarcoma), a patient-derived xenograft model (lung), and a genetically engineered mouse model of mammary cancer, including two models of drug resistance. Results While PyDau exhibited up to 1000-fold greater cytotoxicity than daunomycin and doxorubicin against cancer cell lines, its in vivo application was hindered by an extremely narrow therapeutic window. Liposomal nanoformulation mitigated the limiting toxicity, allowing LiPyDau to be tested in preclinical allograft and xenograft mouse models. LiPyDau demonstrated robust efficacy across all models including multidrug-resistant cancer, completely eradicating tumors in a genetically engineered mouse model of triple-negative breast cancer. LiPyDau exerts its anticancer effect through a unique mechanism involving the crosslinking of complementary DNA strands, resulting in irreversible DNA damage. Conclusion Liposomal formulations of extremely cytotoxic anthracycline analogs, such as LiPyDau, represent a promising and highly effective therapeutic approach for combating drug resistant cancer.

SARS-CoV-2 infection is associated with long-lasting neuropsychiatric and cognitive symptoms, collectively referred to as neuro-PASC. Emerging studies indicates that accelerate brain aging and cellular senescence in COVID brain could lead to altered neuroimmune responses and neurodegenerative outcomes. However, little is known about how cellular senescence is development in neuro-PASC. Here, we examined the role of spike protein subunit S1, a persistent viral antigen, in driving the development of cellular senescence in primary human astrocytes. We have demonstrated that S1 enters endolysosomes and induces endolysosome dysfunction and cellular senescence. Moreover, the multibasic motif is critical for such S1-induced damaging effects. Importantly, we identified Toll-like receptor 7 (TLR7), an endolysosome-resident pattern recognition receptor, as a critical mediator of S1-induced damaging effects. Mechanistically, S1 interacts with TLR7 at the site of the endolysosome lumen and activates p38 MAPK signaling of downstream of TLR7, which drive the development of cellular senescence. Together, these findings suggest that TLR7 mediates S1-induced endolysosome dysfunction and cellular senescence, and that TLR7 represents a therapeutic target for mitigating neuro-PASC.

Background Traumatic spine injuries (TSIs) in paediatric and adolescent populations are uncommon but often result in serious morbidity and healthcare burden. In Saudi Arabia, limited population-based data exist to describe the epidemiology and outcomes of TSIs in this group. Methods This retrospective cohort study included patients aged 1–18 years with TSIs admitted to King Saud Medical City in Riyadh between August 1, 2017, and December 31, 2022. Data were extracted from the Saudi TraumA Registry (STAR). Patients were categorised into three groups: pre-school (1–6 years), school-age (7–12 years), and adolescents (13–18 years). Demographic, injury, and outcome variables were analysed using descriptive and comparative statistics. Results A total of 353 patients were included, with males comprising 84.7%. Motor vehicle crashes (MVCs) were the leading cause of injury (69.3%). Overall, thoracic spine injuries were most common (43.8%), while high cervical injuries predominated in pre-school children (40.8%). Polytrauma occurred in 72.5% of cases, and a third of the patients required ICU admission. Among those admitted to ICU or who died, head injuries were the most frequent associated injury. Common procedures included spinal internal fixation (25%), craniotomy/craniectomy (20%), and lower-limb fixation (19.5%). Mechanical ventilation was required in 23.8% of patients, and in-hospital mortality was 3.4%. Mortality was associated with higher Injury Severity Scores, lower Glasgow Coma Scale, and increased need for trauma team activation, blood transfusion, and respiratory support. Conclusion This study highlights the burden of TSIs among children and adolescents in Saudi Arabia, particularly those caused by MVCs and frequently associated with polytrauma. The findings highlight the pressing need for targeted prevention strategies, improved trauma system infrastructure, and multidisciplinary management. Future research should investigate long-term outcomes and evaluate the effectiveness of preventive initiatives.

Background Understanding how diet influences inflammation requires identifying specific dietary components responsible for anti-inflammatory effects. This study examined the impact of six-week supplementation with a single-source prebiotic fibre (inulin), omega-3, or a synbiotic (fermented kefir + prebiotic fibre mix) on a broad range of inflammatory markers. Methods Serum inflammatory proteins were profiled using the Olink 96 inflammation panel in a 6-week intervention. Participants received one of the following: synbiotic (n = 20; 170 ml kefir + 10 g prebiotic), omega 3 (n = 33; 500 mg/day), inulin fibre (n = 31; 20 g/day), or no supplementation (n = 20 control). Changes from baseline and between groups were analysed using parametric methods and effect sizes (Cohen’s d). FDR-adjusted p < 0.05 was considered significant. Results All three dietary interventions significantly reduced inflammatory markers versus control. TNF-α decreased with omega-3 (d= − 0.618, 95% CI -0.73 to -0.09, p = 0.01) and inulin fibre (d=–1.012, 95% CI -0.71 to -0.20, p = 0.001). The synbiotic group showed broader and larger reductions, including IL-6 (d=–0.882,95% CI -1.36 to -0.17, p = 0.01), IFN-γ (d=–0.940, 95% CI -2.03 to -0.31, p = 0.009), SIRT2 (d=–1.505, 95% CI -1.30 to -0.51, p < 0.0001), 4EBP1 (d=–1.384, 95% CI -1.43 to -0.32, p = 0.0004), CCL23 (d=–1.356, 95% CI -1.40 to -0.48, p = 0.0002), and mucosal cytokines CCL25 (d=–1.137, 95% CI -0.90 to -0.23, p = 0.001) and CCL28 (d=–1.006, 95% CI -0.80 to -0.16, p = 0.003). Increases in serum butyrate correlated with reductions in IL-6 following the synbiotic intervention. Conclusions All interventions reduced systemic inflammation, but the synbiotic produced broader and stronger effects, targeting proteins linked to immune and metabolic function. While gut microbiome profiling was not included in this study, it is planned in future work to clarify how synbiotics may influence host–microbiome interactions and inflammatory regulation. Trial registration Trial registration https://bit.ly/47TFWbJ NCT06480812. Registered 28th June 2024 Retrospectively registered https//clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06480812. Graphical abstract

Dietary restriction (DR) refers to a broad set of interventions that limit the intake of specific nutrients or overall food consumption, either in quantity or timing, without causing malnutrition. DR has long been considered the most robust intervention for increasing healthspan and lifespan. This includes, not exhaustively, caloric restriction (CR), protein restriction (PR), amino acid restriction (AAR), intermittent fasting (IF), and time-restricted fasting (TRF), each with overlapping but distinct metabolic and physiological effects. This brief review examines the current scientific understanding of how some of the most commonly employed DR regimens may impact metabolism, lifespan, and healthspan. Particular attention is given to the underlying biological mechanisms and supporting evidence derived from both human clinical studies and fundamental biological research conducted with model organisms ranging from yeast to non-human primates.

Background Mobile apps show promise in supporting patients with heart failure (HF) in adhering to dietary guidelines for sodium and fluid. Though numerous apps to support HF management exist, only a few have dedicated features to support dietary adherence. Objectives To describe the process and outcomes from the development and testing of Sodium NavigatorHF, a mobile app intervention to engage patients with HF in dietary education and adherence. Methods Background research in app development, behaviour change, nutrition and qualitative interviews with patients and healthcare providers informed app content and design. Weekly team meetings were held to establish learning objectives, content, and features of the app until a prototype was developed and approved by the research team. Using a quasi-experimental mixed-methods design, patients with HF (≥ 18 years) evaluated the prototype via one-on-one online user-testing sessions. App engagement, satisfaction, and usability were measured using a 12-question patient-reported Likert-scale questionnaire. Participant feedback on app content and features was gathered using qualitative interviews. Results Six educational modules (dietary sodium recommendations, contributors of sodium in the diet, nutrition labelling, lowering dietary sodium, fluid restriction and goal setting), ten behaviour change techniques (e.g., feedback on behaviour, social support) and gamified components (i.e., avatar, point-system) were integrated into the app. Participants with HF (n = 10, 56±15 years, 80% women) enjoyed using the app (90%), strongly agreed that the information was meaningful and useful for their general health (80%) and was easy to use (70%). Conclusion Results demonstrate the potential of Sodium NavigatorHF to support patients with dietary education and adherence for HF management.

Background In western countries such as Canada, immigrants are experiencing cultural food insecurity - that is the inability to acquire, afford, and access one' ethnic foods and community gardens have emerged as potential area for addressing cultural food insecurity. However, limited knowledge exists on the role of collective community gardens in addressing the cultural food needs of immigrant communities. Methods We conducted a community-based participatory research (CBPR) informed by an Afrocentric lens using quantitative and qualitative research methodologies. Data collection involved an online survey (n = 119) which was co-developed and co-administered with our community partners– Sinkunia Community Development Organization (SCDO). Semi-structured, in-depth interviews (IDI) were also conducted with purposefully sampled participants (n = 10) to obtain nuanced narratives. This study included Black identifying African immigrants from sub-Saharan countries. Results High prevalence of food insecurity (75.6%) was observed in the survey participants, higher than the general Canadian household prevalence rate. Participants recalled experiencing food insecurity ranging from mild (39.5%) to moderate (26.1%) and severe (10.1%) food insecurity. High prevalence of cultural food insecurity (80.7%) was also observed with most participants reporting some level of deprivation of cultural foods. However, participants demonstrated resilience and adaptability in maintaining their cultural food-ways amid these challenges. Collective community gardens allowed immigrant communities to: (a) cultivate connections through food production (‘seeds of sovereignty’); (b) build intergenerational bridges (‘seeds of identity’); (c) grow together across generations; and (d) grow strong to embody health and wellbeing. Conclusion The findings contribute to a growing body of evidence on the embodied benefits of community gardens for food security and social place-making of immigrant populations. High interest and engagement in gardening activities in the population suggests potential for expansion of community-led initiatives to support social and cultural integration of immigrant. This is important to Alberta’s and to Canada’s current and future sustainable economic and social growth.

Background Liquid biopsy assays using cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) can revolutionize care for children with central nervous system (CNS) tumors by enabling precise monitoring of therapeutic responses and detecting recurrence or measurable residual disease (MRD). These assays can detect cell-free, circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) via somatic alterations, though accurately measuring low-abundance ctDNA in CSF is challenging. Methods Our research focused on the optimization of next-generation sequencing library preparation from cell-free DNA (cfDNA), evaluating four commercial kits to address the low nucleic acid yield in CSF-derived cfDNA. The selected kit minimized false positives and detected somatic variants at 5% variant allele frequency using 0.1 ng input of synthetic cfDNA, suitable for low-volume CSF samples. Results We then applied our optimized workflow to six children with CNS tumors using a personalized hybrid-capture sequencing strategy (“MRD4U”), in which individualized panels were designed based on each patient’s tumor sequencing. Using MRD4U, we identified ctDNA in two samples, even though neither patient had radiographic or clinical evidence of disease at the time of liquid biopsy. Notably, one ctDNA-positive patient developed radiographic recurrence four months later, demonstrating the assay’s potential to detect molecular relapse ahead of conventional clinical measures. Conclusions These findings demonstrate applicability of our personalized MRD4U assay in early detection of disease recurrence. Unlike non-targeted or tumor-agnostic CSF liquid biopsy approaches, MRD4U leverages patient-specific genomic information to enable sensitive, tumor-informed monitoring that can be deployed across a wide range of pediatric CNS tumors. Our approach is broadly applicable to any tumor type with existing genomic data, enabling ctDNA detection across diverse diagnoses. Ultimately, this strategy may inform clinical decision-making and enable earlier therapeutic intervention.

Depression and anxiety are among the most prevalent mental disorders globally and represent major public health challenges. The impact of early-life famine exposure on mental health has increasingly drawn attention. However, research on the association between early-life famine exposure and the risk of depression and anxiety in adulthood, especially across different ethnic backgrounds, remains scarce in worldwide. The study is based on the baseline data from the China Multi-Ethnic Cohort (CMEC), and includes 18,376 individuals who were born between 1939 and 1978 and experienced early life famine exposure. All participants underwent face-to-face interviews and physical examinations, and their anxiety and depression symptoms were assessed using the PHQ-2 and GAD-2 scales. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was conducted to examine the association between early-life famine exposure and the risk of depression and anxiety in adulthood. The study revealed that exposure to famine during childhood (OR = 1.65, 95% CI: 1.33–2.05, p < 0.001) and adolescence (OR = 1.64, 95% CI: 1.18–2.28, p = 0.003) was associated with an increased risk of depressive symptoms in adulthood, especially among females ( childhood OR = 1.87, 95% CI: 1.47–2.39, p < 0.001; adolescence OR = 1.96, 95% CI: 1.36–2.81, p < 0.001). In the Han ethnic group, childhood famine exposure (OR = 1.92, 95% CI: 1.44–2.56, p < 0.001) was associated with a higher risk of depressive symptoms in later life. In the Yi ethnic group, fetal exposure to famine was associated with an increased risk of both depressive symptoms (OR = 2.33, 95% CI: 1.28–4.25, p = 0.005) and anxiety symptoms in adulthood (OR = 1.99, 95% CI: 1.37–2.88, p < 0.001), whereas no associations were observed in the Bai ethnic group. Regarding anxiety symptoms, males exposed to famine during childhood (OR = 0.53, 95% CI: 0.33–0.85, p = 0.008) and adolescence (OR = 0.32, 95% CI: 0.13–0.78, p = 0.013) had a lower risk of developing anxiety symptoms in adulthood. Among the Yi population, fetal famine exposure was associated with a higher risk of adult anxiety symptoms (OR = 1.99, 95% CI: 1.37–2.88, p < 0.001). Famine exposure during childhood and adolescence is associated with altered risks of mental health disorders in adulthood, with patterns varying across ethnic groups. Early-life nutritional deprivation may exert long-term effects on mental health, and these associations appear to differ by gender and ethnicity.

Background Selenium is thought to improve glucose and lipid metabolism in pregnant women with gestational diabetes mellitus. However, this finding is somewhat controversial. In this paper, we evaluated the effects of selenium supplementation on glucose and lipid metabolism in patients with GDM. Methods Searches were carried out in PubMed, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, EMBASE, CBM, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wan Fang, and VIP from their inception until May 2025. Two reviewers independently extracted data. The Cochrane risk of bias tool was applied to assess the methodological quality of every study and Meta-analysis was carried out with a random effects model or a fixed effects model. Publication bias was evaluated by the Begg and Egger tests. Results Four randomized controlled trials, with 230 participants in total, were included. Participants were between 18 and 45 years old. The time span of these studies ranged from 2015 to 2022. The daily dose of selenium supplementation was from 100 µg/d to 200 µg/d and the duration of intervention was 6 weeks to 12 weeks. Compared with placebo group, the selenium group did not significantly reduce the level of homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance(P = 0.20, MD = -0.71, 95%CI: -1.80, 0.37). Selenium supplementation at 200 µg/d significantly reduced fasting plasma glucose(P = 0.0002, MD = -5.03, 95% CI: -7.70, -2.37) and the incidence of newborn’s hyperbilirubinemia((P = 0.0003, MD = 0.09, 95% CI: 0.03, 0.33). However, there was no obvious differences in improving total cholesterol, triglycerides, low density lipoprotein cholesterol and high density lipoprotein cholesterol. Conclusions For pregnant women with gestational diabetes mellitus, daily supplementation with 200 µg of selenium may help lower fasting blood glucose levels and the risk of hyperbilirubinemia in the newborn, but it does not significantly affect total cholesterol, triglycerides, low density lipoprotein cholesterol, or high density lipoprotein cholesterol levels. Given the limitations of this study, these conclusions require further validation.

Objective The relationship between depression and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) remains controversial. Therefore, this study aims to explore their association and utilize machine learning models to predict OSA among individuals with depression within the United States population. Methods Cross-sectional data from the American National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were analyzed. The sample included 14,492 participants. Weighted logistic regression analysis was performed to examine the association between OSA and depression.Additionally, interaction effect analyses were conducted to assess potential interactions between each subgroup and the depressed population.Multiple machine learning models were constructed within the depressed population to predict the risk of OSA among individuals with depression, employing the Shapley Additive Explanations(SHAP) interpretability method for analysis. Results A total of 14,492 participants were collected. The full-adjusted model OR for Depression and OSA was (OR,1.31;95%CI(1.08, 1.60); P < 0.005).The positive association between depression and OSA was revealed in all models.The interaction analysis revealed no subgroups exhibited statistical significance. The Neural Network was identified as the best-performing model, achieving the highest Youden's Index, AUC, and Kappa scores. SHAP analysis highlighted the most significant predictors of OSA: BMI, Age, Marital status, Hypertension, Caffeine intake, Sex, Alcohol status, and Fat intake. Conclusion In conclusion, our research indicates that depression is associated with OSA, highlighting the importance of early detection and management of depressive symptoms in individuals at risk of https://bit.ly/4ncJIBG models were developed to predict OSA and were interpreted using SHAP. This method identified key factors associated with OSA, encompassing demographic, dietary, and health-related dimensions.

Advancing our collective understanding of clinical and translational studies in children and adolescents with arthritis is essential. Early diagnosis and ...

Acoustic lice treatment (AcuLice) is a newly developed system which uses a composite acoustic sound image with low-frequency sound to remove salmon lice (Lepeophtheirus salmonis) from Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar). The impact of the AcuLice system in Atlantic salmon and lumpfish was evaluated according to primary, secondary and tertiary stress responses in one location (Hattasteinen) with AcuLice system operating in 6-week cycles and in a reference location (Tittelsnes) without the AcuLice system. Appetite and behaviour were also recorded. Fish from Hattasteinen, both Atlantic salmon and lumpfish showed a normal growth pattern, with no alterations in biometric indexes that could be interpreted as a sign of tertiary (chronic) stress response. Atlantic salmon from the reference location exhibited a reduced appetite and slower growth at the beginning of the trial, suggesting that stock differences are much more important than any potential effects produced by the AcuLice system. There were no changes in feeding, swimming or aggressive behaviour that could be attributed to the AcuLice operation. In summary, no negative effects in Atlantic salmon or lumpfish that could be linked to the operation of the AcuLice system were observed in this trial.