Alcohol fermentation waste (AFW) is a by-product of the alcohol manufacturing process with a rich carbohydrate and protein, serving as a suitable substrate for biomethane production via anaerobic digestion (AD). This study investigated the methanogenesis feasibility of AD treating AFW (total solids of 100.0 ± 1.0 g/L) in a thermophilic continuous stirred-tank reactor and explored the optimal operational conditions by regulating the hydraulic retention time (HRT) from 100 to 60, 30, and 20 days, based on system stability, CH4 yield, and organic matter degradation efficiency. The results revealed that a higher CH4 yield of 0.51 ± 0.03 L/g-VSdegraded was achieved sustainably at an HRT of 30 days. System stability was disrupted at an HRT of 20 days, which was primarily attributable to the accumulation of propionic acid (2.47 ± 0.11 g-HAc/L). The modified first-order kinetic model accurately simulated the CH4 yield and organic matter degradation efficiency under varying HRTs (all R2 > 0.92). Mass flow analysis and critical parameter correlation analysis are beneficial for reducing operational costs and streamlining operational procedures. The combination of syntrophic acetate oxidation bacteria (SAOB) and hydrogenotrophic methanogen (HM) is the dominant metabolic pathway in the system. As the HRT adjusted from higher (100 and 60 days) to lower (30 and 20 days) levels, the dominant SAOB and HM shifted from p_Firmicutes_MBA03 to Coprothermobacter and from Methanothermobacter to Methanobacterium, respectively. The energetics evaluation results revealed that a lower HRT (from 100 to 30 days) was conducive to achieving higher net energy (from 17.43 to 46.06 kJ/d).
This study aimed to validate and adapt the Turkish version of the Illness Identity Questionnaire (IIQ) for cultural use. The IIQ was developed by Oris et al. to assess the integration of illness into identity. This psychometric validation investigation used a sample of young adults with chronic illness (n = 166) to evaluate a questionnaire. The questionnaire underwent forward and back translation procedures, and content and language validity was approved by experts. Confirmatory factor analysis supported a four-factor structure (engulfment, rejection, acceptance and enrichment) and demonstrated good model fit (χ2/df = 1.963, RMSEA = 0.076, GFI = 0.940 and CFI = 0.934). Convergent validity analyses revealed significant relationships between dimensions of illness identity, depression and life satisfaction. Engulfment, rejection and acceptance were positively related to depression and negatively related to life satisfaction, while enrichment exhibited the opposite pattern. Reliability analyses showed internal consistency ranging from acceptable to excellent, with Cronbach's alpha coefficients ranging from 0.719 to 0.907. Item-total correlations (0.380-0.799, p < 0.01) confirmed homogeneity in measuring illness identity. The Turkish version of the IIQ demonstrated acceptable psychometric properties, thus supporting its use as a reliable and valid tool for assessing illness identity. The Illness Identity Questionnaire has been validated for cross-cultural use in Turkish.Illness identity largely affects quality of life and depression in young people with chronic illness.The Turkish Illness Identity Questionnaire is a valid and reliable tool for assessing illness identity in young adults with chronic illness.
Functional dissociative seizures (FDS) are paroxysmal seizure-like events with no electrographic abnormalities. Structured psychoeducation is considered a standard component of FDS management. Yoga Nidra (YN) is a guided meditative relaxation technique that has shown benefit in other neuropsychiatric conditions, but its adjunctive role in FDS has not been studied. To evaluate whether adjunctive YN provides additional benefit over structured brief psychoeducation alone in reducing monthly FDS frequency. This open-label, randomised controlled pilot trial enrolled 50 FDS patients aged ≥13 years, randomised 1:1 to receive brief psychoeducation plus YN (n = 25) or brief psychoeducation plus sham YN (n = 25). All participants received structured psychoeducation; the intervention group additionally practised standardised audio-guided YN. The primary outcome was the change in monthly FDS frequency. Secondary outcomes included 6-month FDS episode count, seizure freedom duration, HAM-A, HAM-D, WSAS, and QOLIE-31 scores. Outcomes were assessed at 6 months by a blinded evaluator. Between January 2021 and February 2022, 72 patients were screened, and 22 were excluded. Fifty patients were randomly assigned to receive brief psychoeducation plus YN (n = 25) or brief psychoeducation plus sham YN (n = 25), of whom primary outcome data were available for 48 patients at 6 months (23 patients in the brief psychoeducation plus YN group and 25 in the brief psychoeducation plus sham YN group). Median monthly FDS frequency reduced from 6 (IQR 2.5-45) to 0.5 (0-1) in the brief psychoeducation plus YN group and from 7 (3.5-45) to 0.5 (01.7) in the sham group; between-group difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.88). Both groups demonstrated substantial clinical improvement during follow-up in seizure frequency, mood symptoms, functioning and quality of life; however, adjunctive YN did not provide measurable additional benefit over the control condition. Larger studies are needed to clarify the role of adjunctive YN in the management of functional dissociative seizures.
This study examined psychological distress and financial toxicity among cancer patient-caregiver dyads receiving chemotherapy in Western India, focusing on emotional and financial interdependence. In this cross-sectional study of 357 chemotherapy patient-caregiver dyads, psychological distress (NCCN Distress Thermometer), financial toxicity (COST-FACIT), and adverse drug reactions (standard causality and severity scales) were assessed, with patient predictors analyzed by multivariable logistic regression and dyadic effects examined using the Actor-Partner Interdependence Model. Clinically significant distress was reported by 55.74% of patients and 10.92% of caregivers, while nearly 70% of both groups experienced mild-to-moderate financial toxicity. Patient distress was significantly associated with adverse drug reactions (AOR = 2.208), higher patient financial toxicity (AOR = 0.895), caregiver financial toxicity (AOR = 1.056), and caregiver distress (AOR = 1.951). Caregiver distress was significantly associated with caregiver financial toxicity (AOR = 1.19), patient distress (AOR = 0.72), breadwinner status, and marital status. APIM showed strong actor effects for patients (β = 0.446) and caregivers (β = 0.366), and partner effects indicating cross-dyad influence (β = 0.157; β = 0.168). Psychological distress and financial toxicity are prevalent, and addressing patient-caregiver interdependence-particularly in primary caregivers and patients with treatment toxicities-may improve outcomes.
The purpose of this study was to explore why and how medical students use non-traditional learning resources relative to the formal curriculum, to inform curriculum development efforts, and support self‑directed learning. A qualitative study grounded in a pragmatic research approach was conducted using semi structured interviews with medical students at the University of Ottawa. Participant recruitment occurred via email/social media, and a pre survey was used to ensure sampling of both low- and high-level resource users. Transcripts were analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis in NVivo. Analysis was both deductive, guided by self-regulated learning (motivation, goal setting, feedback, self-monitoring), and inductive to capture unanticipated themes. Twenty-nine students participated (18 pre-clerkship; 11 clerkship). Four themes were developed: two addressing motivations  for using non‑traditional resources-the traditional curriculum is repetitive and inflexible and non‑traditional resources are high‑yield and flexible; one addressing goal setting-studying for today's exam or tomorrow's patient; and one addressing how students engage with resources, captured through three archetypes-the Traditionalist, the Supplementer, and the Reformer. This study demonstrates how medical students navigate learning by turning to non-traditional resources, shaped by their motivations, goal orientations, and distinct engagement patterns. These insights highlight opportunities to streamline and modernize curricula, integrate vetted high yield resources, and strengthen students' self-regulated learning skills. Leveraging the three learner archetypes can further guide curriculum planning by recognizing diverse learning approaches, engaging Supplementers as indicators of curricular gaps, supporting Traditionalists with structured pathways, and viewing Reformers' non-attendance as an expression of SRL rather than disengagement.
Loss of appetite is frequent in older patients. However, currently there are no internationally recognised guidelines for management of affected patients. Owing to its multifactorial pathophysiology, treatment should involve wide range of healthcare professionals (HCPs) working in a team. This descriptive qualitative study aimed to gather insights concerning appetite loss management from medical professionals working with older adults. We conducted semi-structured interviews with 11 medical professionals, transcribed them verbatim and analysed using inductive thematic analysis approach. We identified five main themes that included diagnostic challenges in patients' identification and assessment, therapeutic approach to appetite disturbances, involvement of caregivers and healthcare professionals, the interplay between appetite loss and hospital setting, and narratives on appetite. Regardless of their profession, the participants shared a wide variety of diagnostic and management strategies to address appetite loss. They emphasised the importance of performing treatment within a coordinated interdisciplinary team and the need to raise awareness levels among HCPs, caregivers and the patients. For some HCPs, their personal experiences with appetite loss were an important source of insight. There is a pressing need to implement standardised approaches, that would orchestrate the macro, mezo and micro level actions to address the issue of appetite loss in older patients. Our results, in the context of earlier and ongoing studies, should inform future systemic approaches to the management of appetite loss in older patients across different clinical settings.
The prevalence of untreated, uncontrolled and resistant hypertension and their specific prognosis among American adults with prediabetes remain unclear. We aimed to explore the prevalence of hypertension treatment and control and their associated risks of all-cause and cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality among this population. We analyzed data from 12,321 participants in the NHANES survey (1999-2016). Prediabetes was defined as fasting plasma glucose 5.6-7.0 mmol/L, hemoglobin A1c 5.7%-6.4%, 2-hour glucose 7.8-11.1 mmol/L, or self-reported diagnosis. Hypertension was defined as blood pressure ≥140/90 mmHg, a self-reported history of hypertension, or current antihypertensive medication use, and categorized into untreated, controlled, uncontrolled, and resistant hypertension. Cox regression assessed associations between hypertension categories and CVD and all-cause mortality. The study included 12,321 adults with prediabetes, representing an estimated 53.3 million individuals. Age- and sex-standardized hypertension prevalence was 43%. Among those with hypertension, 62% were receiving treatment. Among treated individuals, 66% had controlled hypertension, 26.5% had uncontrolled hypertension, and 7.5% had resistant hypertension. Mortality risk increased progressively from non-hypertensive to untreated, controlled, uncontrolled, and resistant hypertension stages. Compared to non-hypertensive individuals, hazard ratios (HRs) for CVD mortality were 1.17 (95% CI: 0.80-1.71), 1.52 (1.04-2.21), 2.03 (1.35-3.05), and 1.83 (1.07-3.13), respectively (P trend <0.001). For all-cause mortality, HRs were 1.01 (0.86-1.20), 1.05 (0.87-1.26), 1.16 (0.95-1.41), and 1.42 (1.09-1.85), respectively (P trend = 0.022). Hypertension was highly prevalent among American adults with prediabetes, and mortality risk increased with advancing hypertension stages. This study investigated hypertension among American adults with prediabetes. The findings reveal that hypertension is highly prevalent in this population, affecting approximately 43% of individuals. Among those with hypertension, 62% were undergoing treatment. Of the treated patients, two-thirds achieved controlled blood pressure, while over one-quarter did not meet the target, and an additional 7.5% had treatment-resistant hypertension. More importantly, the study found that mortality risk progressively increases with the severity of hypertension. Compared to individuals without hypertension, the risk of cardiovascular disease mortality gradually rises among those with untreated, controlled, uncontrolled, and treatment-resistant hypertension, with the risk for uncontrolled hypertension being approximately twice as high. Similarly, all-cause mortality risk also shows an upward trend across these hypertension categories. The conclusion emphasizes that early identification and effective management of hypertension among the population with prediabetes are crucial to reducing their escalating mortality risk.
BACKGROUND Cervical spine imbalance can lead to neck pain and abnormal posture. However, the relationship between global cervical sagittal balance and different neck pain subtypes remains unclear. Therefore, this retrospective study aimed to compare radiographic cervical sagittal alignment parameters, including the sagittal vertical axis (SVA), spino-cranial angle (SCA), and intervertebral disc height, among 25 patients with nonspecific neck pain, 20 patients with degenerative neck pain, and 25 asymptomatic healthy controls. MATERIAL AND METHODS This retrospective observational study included 70 participants enrolled between January 2023 and January 2025, categorized into 3 groups: patients with nonspecific neck pain, patients with degenerative neck pain (structural pathology), and asymptomatic healthy controls. Using cervical radiographs, 3 cervical alignment parameters were evaluated: SVA, SCA, and disk height. Differences between groups were analyzed using one-way analysis of variance. RESULTS SVA and SCA differed significantly between the nonspecific neck pain group and both the degenerative neck pain group (P<0.05) and healthy controls (P<0.05), whereas no significant differences were observed between the degenerative neck pain group and healthy controls. Intervertebral disc height did not differ significantly among the 3 groups (P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS Nonspecific neck pain is associated with changes in global cervical sagittal alignment, including greater anterior translation and altered lordosis. These patterns differ from those observed in patients with degenerative neck pain and asymptomatic controls, supporting the use of global rather than segmental alignment in clinical assessment.
The article provides a comprehensive assessment of the psychological state of the Russian population in the face of multiple external challenges. According to the April 2024 survey conducted by the All-Russian Public Opinion Research Center, nine out of ten Russians experience stress on a regular basis, with one in five experiencing stress on a regular basis. The index of need for psychological assistance reached 30 out of 100 in late 2024, marking the highest level in the past 15 years. The purpose of this study is to analyze the current state of attitudes towards stress in Russian society based on data from large-scale sociological and psychological studies conducted in 2024-2025. The study examines the factors that influence an environmentally friendly attitude towards stress and the ability to cope with it. The main objectives include systematizing scientific approaches to studying stress, analyzing methods for diagnosing stress conditions, summarizing data on the prevalence of stress among the Russian population, and identifying dominant coping strategies. В статье проведена комплексная оценка психологического состояния российского населения в условиях множественных внешних вызовов. По данным Всероссийского центра изучения общественного мнения за апрель 2024 г., с разной периодичностью со стрессом сталкиваются 9 из 10 россиян, при этом каждый пятый испытывает стресс на регулярной основе. Индекс потребности в психологической помощи в конце 2024 г. достиг 30 пунктов из 100 возможных, что является максимальным показателем за последние 15 лет. Целью настоящего исследования является анализ современного состояния отношения к стрессу в российском обществе на основе данных крупных социологических и психологических исследований 2024—2025 гг. В работе исследованы факторы, влияющие на экологичное отношение к стрессу и умению противостоять ему. Основные задачи включают систематизацию научных подходов к изучению стресса, анализ методов диагностики стрессовых состояний, обобщение данных о распространённости стресса среди населения России и выявление доминирующих копинг-стратегий.
To determine the circumstances of acute poisoning cases at the Poison Control Center (2021-2024) and analyze their risk factors. We retrospectively analyzed the demographic characteristics, clinical features, and prognosis of patients with acute poisoning at the Poison Control Center. This study included 10,402 cases comprising drug poisoning (5,074), alcohol poisoning (2,316), carbon monoxide poisoning (1,803), pesticide poisoning (882), and chemical poisoning (327). The age group with the highest incidence of poisoning was 21-40 years old (37.94%, p < 0.01). Women have a higher proportion of drug poisoning (72.59%, p < 0.01), while men have a higher proportion of alcohol poisoning (74.31%, p < 01). Patients with pesticide poisoning were predominantly educated to the middle school level or below (73.02%, p < 0.01), whereas those with alcohol poisoning were mainly educated to the high school level or above (73.88%, p < 0.01). Carbon monoxide and pesticide poisoning occur primarily in rural areas. Poisoning incidents at home accounted for 74.32%, alcohol poisoning frequently occurred in entertainment venues (60.58%, p < 0.01). Carbon monoxide poisoning is more common in January and December, whereas drug poisoning has a higher incidence throughout the year. Carbon monoxide, chemical and alcohol poisoning were predominantly accidental, whereas drug and pesticide poisoning were mainly intentional. Gastric lavage dominated pestic ide poisoning; Antidotes prevailed in alcohol poisoning.The overall mortality rate was 1.56 %, highest for pesticide poisoning (8.28%, p < 0.01). Different types of poisoning have distinct sociodemographic characteristics, that should be considered when developing prevention and treatment policies. Personalized treatment plans should be tailored to different poisonings.
The clinical relevance of concordance between multidisciplinary tumor board (MDT) decisions and artificial intelligence (AI)-based treatment recommendations remains unclear. This study evaluated not only concordance but also the clinical impact of discordance direction on outcomes in endometrial cancer. We retrospectively analyzed 150 patients with endometrial cancer discussed at a single-center MDT. AI-based recommendations were generated using a large language model according to ESGO/ESTRO/ESP guidelines, based on standardized clinicopathological inputs without molecular classification. Concordance between MDT and AI recommendations was assessed at the patient level. Discordant cases were classified as relative undertreatment or overtreatment. Agreement beyond chance was evaluated using Cohen's kappa. Recurrence-free survival (RFS) was analyzed using Cox regression and Kaplan-Meier methods. Overall concordance was observed in 76.7% of patients, with fair agreement beyond chance (Cohen's κ = 0.365, 95% CI 0.181-0.549). During follow-up, 68 events (45.3%) occurred. Concordance was not independently associated with RFS in multivariable analysis (adjusted HR 1.26, 95% CI 0.64-2.48, p = 0.50). In contrast, relative undertreatment was associated with worse RFS (HR 1.94, 95% CI 1.03-3.64, p = 0.040), whereas overtreatment was not. Event rates were higher in the undertreatment group compared to concordant patients (67.9% vs 40.0%), despite more favorable baseline characteristics. Concordance alone may be insufficient to determine the clinical relevance of AI-based recommendations. Discordance direction appears more informative, with treatment de-escalation associated with inferior outcomes. AI-based systems may help identify potential undertreatment and support more consistent implementation of guideline-based care.
Published biomedical experiments provide an increasingly rich collection of results and identify genes potentially involved in diverse biological mechanisms. However, individual studies are often confined to narrow experimental contexts and are restricted to single omics layers. Cross-study knowledge aggregation can broaden this perspective and enable the construction of global, context-aware gene rankings. Recent developments in natural language processing have made large-scale literature mining increasingly feasible. This enables the systematic extraction and fusion of symbolic knowledge from published experiments. We present pathXcite, a software that extracts genes associated with specific contexts, such as diseases or biological mechanisms from the literature, and ranks them by contextual relevance. These relevance-based gene rankings can compress a scientific context into a symbolic representation. This representation enables diverse downstream analyses, including cross-context comparisons, network-based analysis, enrichment analysis, and integration with experimental omics data. In multiple use cases, we show how our extraction and fusion strategy can be applied to uncover hidden aspects in biological data.
The aim of this study is to examine the associations between smoking self-efficacy, health anxiety, and women's awareness of third-hand smoke (THS). This descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted in Türkiye between June and July 2025 through an online survey with 335 women aged ≥18 years. Data were collected using a Descriptive Information Form, the Third-hand Smoke Awareness Scale, the Smoking Self-Efficacy Scale, and the Health Anxiety Inventory. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Mann-Whitney U, Kruskal-Wallis, Spearman's correlation, multiple linear regression, and mediation analysis. A total of 335 women were included in the study (mean age: 34.67 ± 12.31 years). Significant differences in THS awareness, smoking self-efficacy, and health anxiety were observed across several sociodemographic and behavioral variables. Higher educational level was associated with greater THS awareness, while participants with children and those whose partners smoked had lower awareness levels (P < .05). Smoking self-efficacy was higher among nonsmokers and individuals with higher education, whereas health anxiety was higher among smokers and those exposed to smoking in their environment (P < .05). Spearman's correlation analysis revealed weak but significant associations, including a negative correlation between number of children and THS awareness (ρ = -.213, P < .01), and a positive correlation between THS awareness and smoking self-efficacy (ρ = .154, P < .05). Multiple linear regression analysis showed that the model explained a small proportion of variance (R2 = .06). Only the number of children was significantly associated with THS awareness (β = -.16, P = .02), while smoking self-efficacy and health anxiety were not significant predictors. Mediation analysis indicated that smoking self-efficacy did not mediate the relationship between THS awareness and health anxiety (P > .05). THS awareness was associated with several sociodemographic and behavioral factors; however, smoking self-efficacy and health anxiety were not significant predictors in the adjusted model. These findings suggest that awareness alone may be insufficient and that broader contextual and individual factors should be considered in strategies aimed at reducing tobacco exposure.
The article considers corporate health as an important element of the modern HR management system. The relevance of the topic is due to the shift in the management paradigm from a narrow understanding of occupational safety to a broader approach that includes the physical, mental and social well-being of employees as a resource for the sustainability of the organization. It is shown that the concept of corporate health is formed at the intersection of human resource management, occupational safety, organizational psychology and workplace well-being policy. It is proved that, theoretically, corporate health should be considered not as a set of disparate wellness activities, but as an integrated subsystem of personnel management related to the quality of the work environment, organizational support, employee participation practices, occupational risk prevention and the development of well-being-oriented HR practices. It is concluded that corporate health is both a factor in preserving human capital, a tool for improving organizational stability, and an indicator of the maturity of personnel policy. В статье рассматривается корпоративное здоровье как значимый элемент современной системы кадрового менеджмента. Актуальность темы обусловлена смещением управленческой парадигмы от узкого понимания охраны труда к более широкому подходу, включающему физическое, психическое и социальное благополучие работников как ресурс устойчивости организации. Показано, что концепт корпоративного здоровья формируется на стыке управления человеческими ресурсами, охраны труда, организационной психологии и политики благополучия на рабочем месте. Обосновывается, что в теоретическом плане корпоративное здоровье следует рассматривать не как набор разрозненных wellness-мероприятий, а как интегрированную подсистему кадрового менеджмента, связанную с качеством трудовой среды, организационной поддержкой, практиками участия работников, профилактикой профессиональных рисков и развитием well-being-ориентированных HR-практик. Делается вывод о том, что корпоративное здоровье выступает одновременно фактором сохранения человеческого капитала, инструментом повышения организационной устойчивости и индикатором зрелости кадровой политики.
Neural substrates of cancer-related cognitive impairment (CRCI) remain poorly understood, especially in older adults facing aging-related cognitive decline and comorbid chronic conditions. Breast cancer survivors aged ≥60 years (n = 64) and non-cancer controls (n = 62) completed structural MRI and neuropsychological testing and self-reported cognition and health information at pretreatment baseline and 12- and 24-month follow-ups. Regional gray matter volume and brain age were evaluated using FreeSurfer and brainageR. Longitudinal linear mixed models tested effects of group, time, and group-by-time interactions on volume. Secondary analyses examined relationships between group, comorbidities, age, gray matter volume, and cognition. Survivors exhibited frontal (p = 0.025, q = 0.058), thalamic (p = 0.008, q = 0.052), and limbic (p = 0.015, q = 0.052) gray matter decline relative to controls over 24 months, with smaller effects in parietal (p = 0.055, q = 0.097) and temporal (p = 0.091, q = 0.127) regions. Survivors showed average yearly frontal and thalamic volume loss at twice the rate of controls (p < 0.05). Survivors with a high comorbidity burden (≥3 comorbidities) exhibited the lowest frontal gray matter volume at all timepoints. A trend-level group-by-time interaction for brain age (p = 0.093) suggested accelerated brain aging in survivors. Survivors failed to show practice effects in the attention, processing speed, and executive functioning neuropsychological domain, whereas controls improved significantly over time (group-by-time interaction p = 0.030). Older breast cancer survivors tended to demonstrate gray matter decline and accelerated brain aging throughout the first two years of survivorship, with comorbidity burden amplifying frontal vulnerability. Findings highlight the need for longitudinal cognitive monitoring and targeted intervention, particularly for older survivors with high comorbidity burden.
Caspase-1, a key protein involved in the inflammasome activation pathway, induces pyroptosis and inflammasome-mediated cytokine activation and release. In this study, we investigated whether serum caspase-1 could guess cross-sectional vasculitis activity and predict future all-cause mortality in patients with antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis (AAV). This study included 73 patients with AAV. Their clinical data at AAV diagnosis and during follow-up were collected and recorded. Disease activity was assessed using the Birmingham vasculitis activity score (BVAS). Serum caspase-1 was measured from the stored sera collected at AAV diagnosis. The end-point of a poor outcome in this study was set as all-cause mortality. The median age of the 73 patients was 64.0 years, and 30 and 43 patients were male and female, respectively. The median BVAS was 5.0, and the median levels of serum caspase-1 were 124.2 pg/mL. During follow-up, the rate of all-cause mortality was identified as 8.2%. Serum caspase-1 was positively correlated with BVAS (r = 0.241, P = 0.040). In multivariable Cox proportional analysis, serum caspase-1 (hazard ratio [HR] 1.003, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.000, 1.006) along with dyslipidaemia (HR 36.610, 95% CI 2.050, 653.701) at AAV diagnosis were significantly and independently associated with all-cause mortality during follow-up in patients with AAV. This study demonstrated that serum caspase-1 at AAV diagnosis could guess cross-sectional AAV activity, as represented by BVAS and further predict future all-cause mortality during follow-up in patients with AAV.
Whether de novo organized left atrial tachyarrhythmia (LAT) shows preserved left atrial appendage (LAA) mechanics has not been adequately characterized. We compared LAA peak emptying velocity across atrial fibrillation (AF) phenotypes and de novo LAT. Multicenter retrospective cohort of 634 consecutive first-ablation candidates undergoing pre-ablation transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) at five centers: paroxysmal AF (PAF, n = 146), persistent AF (PeAF, n = 310), long-standing persistent AF (LsPeAF, n = 86), and LAT (n = 92). Markedly reduced LAA function was peak emptying velocity <25 cm/s. Multivariable regression adjusted for rhythm during TEE, CHA2DS2-VASc, body mass index (BMI), left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), and left atrial (LA) diameter. Mean LAA velocity was 55.7 ± 19.4 (PAF), 44.3 ± 18.5 (PeAF), 31.0 ± 12.5 (LsPeAF), and 36.6 ± 13.5 cm/s (LAT); p < 0.001. LAT lay closer to LsPeAF than to PAF and did not differ from LsPeAF (Tukey p = 0.140). Prevalence of velocity <25 cm/s: 2.7%, 11.9%, 32.6% and 18.5% (p < 0.001). After adjustment, larger LA diameter (β = -0.53/mm, p < 0.001) and higher CHA2DS2-VASc (β = -1.93/point, p < 0.001) were independently associated with lower velocity. Compared with LAT, PAF had lower odds of velocity <25 cm/s (OR 0.19, 95% CI 0.06-0.62). De novo organized LAT exhibits LAA mechanical dysfunction comparable to long-standing persistent AF rather than to PAF. Organized rhythm does not imply preserved appendage function. LAA peak emptying velocity may serve as a functional remodeling marker for pre-ablation phenotyping.
In this article the author reveals the peculiarities of foreign language (FL) learning in different medical educational institutions. Learning a foreign language at the professional level requires a lot of personal work from the medical students. In the process of mastering all kinds of foreign language activities in a medical educational institution, students develop many important professional qualities. They become more patient, learn independently solve to many difficulties in their work, are accurate and precise in their actions. All these above mentioned qualities play a very important role in the formation of the future medical workers. In the article the researcher also describes the issues related to teaching English the students of the medical education institutions with different special purposes and belonging to different groups in terms of the proficiency levels. The author describes the methodology in terms of the competence and communicative approaches. The article gives a brief description of the main features of «the medical foreign language», and also gives the specific characteristics of the language exercises that help the teacher of a FL at the university to teach students the professional terminology. Автор раскрывает особенности обучения иностранному языку (ИЯ) в разных медицинских образовательных учреждениях. Изучение ИЯ на профессиональном уровне требует от студентов-медиков большой личностной работы. В процессе овладения всеми видами иноязычной деятельности в медицинском образовательном учреждении у обучающихся развиваются очень многие важные профессиональные качества. Они становятся более терпеливыми, учатся самостоятельно решать многие задачи в своей работе, аккуратны и точны в своих действиях. Все эти качества играют очень важную роль в становлении будущих медицинских работников. В статье описаны вопросы, связанные с обучением английскому языку обучающихся медицинских образовательных учреждений, имеющих разные специальные цели и относящихся к разным группам по уровню знаний. Автор описывает методику с точки зрения компетентностного и коммуникативного подходов. В статье приводится краткое описание основных особенностей «медицинского ИЯ», а также даются специфические характеристики языковых упражнений, которые помогают преподавателю ИЯ в вузе обучать студентов профессиональной терминологии.
To examine whether middle-aged and older adults differ in a) the timing or onset of high worry and b) the proportion remaining free of high worry throughout chemotherapy, and to identify age-specific predictors. This is a secondary analysis of a longitudinal randomized controlled trial (Managing at Home). Survival analysis with Kaplan-Meier (KM) method compared rates of high worry across six times between age groups. Cox proportional hazards models were fit within each group to identify predictors of high worry, adjusting for other covariates. Among 299 participants, most high worry occurred at T1. Across time points, older adults (n = 171) consistently showed a higher proportion remaining free of high worry than middle-aged adults (n = 117). Distinct predictors of high worry emerged for each group. These findings highlight the importance of early, multidimensional assessment and support age-specific supportive care strategies to identify and manage patients at risk for persistent worry.
Momilactones A (MA) and B (MB) are bioactive diterpenoid lactones found in rice husk; however, conventional extraction relies on solvent-intensive methanolic methods and exhibits limited efficiency, raising environmental sustainability concerns. This study evaluates water-based green extraction approaches to improve the yields and biological performance of momilactone-enriched extracts while reducing solvent consumption. Freezing (FRH), sonication (SRH), combined freezing-sonication (PFS), and cellulase-assisted extraction (E) were compared with conventional methanolic extraction (MRH) as a control. Freezing at -20 °C for 16 h (FRH2) and sonication for 2 h (SRH1) achieved the highest enrichment of MA (51.9 and 52.7 µg/g, respectively) and MB (32.5 and 34.3 µg/g, respectively), representing 1.2-1.4-fold increases over MRH. These extracts exhibited enhanced cytotoxicity against K562, U937, and THP-1 cell lines (IC50: 80.36-124.76 µg/mL) and antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus (MIC: 2 mg/mL). Overall, water-based physical pre-treatments offer a sustainable platform for momilactone extraction in functional food and pharmaceutical applications.