High-risk pregnancy often triggers diverse traumatic-related psychological responses, which can affect postpartum depression outcomes. Identifying these response patterns is key to developing targeted interventions. We sought to classify traumatic psychological response profiles in high-risk pregnant women and examine their associations with postpartum depression. We recruited 518 high-risk pregnant women from obstetric departments. Participants completed the Post-Traumatic Growth Inventory and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Checklist-Civilian Version during the third trimester, along with assessments of demographic characteristics, coping strategies, and pregnancy stress. Postpartum depression was assessed at 6 to 8 weeks postpartum using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale. Latent profile analysis was employed to identify profiles. Three latent profiles were identified: High Growth (34.0%), Traumatic Distressed (27.2%), and Moderate Combined (38.8%). Residence, education level, family income, coping strategies, and higher pregnancy stress are influencing factors in the Traumatic Distressed profile. Postpartum depression differed significantly across profiles (F = 62.97, P < .001). Distinct traumatic response profiles exist among high-risk pregnant women, with the Traumatic Distressed profile showing the greatest risk for postpartum depression. Conversely, High Growth was linked to favorable outcomes. Tailored interventions addressing psycho-social and socioeconomic vulnerabilities are warranted.
Multiphase electrocatalysis on the surface of materials is inherently governed by surface-mediated adsorption/desorption and charge transfer processes, where rational surface engineering is essential to optimize catalytic efficiency. Herein, a practical electrochemical surface modification strategy is developed to enhance the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) activity of a CoCrFeNiAl high-entropy alloy (HEA) via cathodic polarization accompanied by Pt particle decoration. The electrochemical reduction process induces comprehensive surface reconstruction, involving reduction of metal oxides on the HEA surface and in situ anchoring of highly active Pt onto the reconstituted HEA surface. The reconstructed surface with high free energy and abundant active sites enhances the hydrophilicity by accelerating water adsorption on the HEA surface. Moreover, cathodic polarization transforms the surface oxide from a p-n-type complex metal oxide to a single n-type metal oxide, accompanied by a 27-fold increase in charge-carrier density and enhancement of intrinsic electrical conductivity, resulting in accelerated reaction kinetics. As a result, HEA (-1.7) achieved a remarkably low overpotential of 71 mV at 10 mA cm-2 and a Tafel slope of 50 mV dec-1 in 1.0 M KOH. Our study establishes electrochemical polarization-induced surface modulation as a promising route for designing advanced, high-efficiency HEA electrocatalysts.
Phyllanthus emblica Linn. contains abundant free phenolic (PEFP) and bound phenolic (PEBP), both of which have demonstrated potential antidiabetic activities. However, their comparative hypoglycemic effects and underlying mechanisms remain unclear. This study investigated the effects of PEFP and PEBP using insulin-resistant HepG2 (IR-HepG2) cells and a high-fat diet/streptozotocin (HFD/STZ)-induced type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) mouse model. PEFP and PEBP showed no cytotoxicity toward HepG2 cells and significantly enhanced glucose consumption, glycogen synthesis, and hexokinase and pyruvate kinase activities in IR-HepG2 cells. Treatment with 160 μg mL-1 PEFP and PEBP increased glucose consumption in IR-HepG2 cells to 7.13 ± 0.30 and 6.73 ± 0.37 mmol L-1, respectively, restoring levels comparable to control cells (7.23 ± 0.69 mmol L-1). In HFD/STZ-induced T2DM mice, PEFP and PEBP significantly improved glucose homeostasis, insulin sensitivity, dyslipidemia, oxidative stress, and inflammatory responses after 10 weeks of intervention. High-dose PEFP and PEBP reduced fasting blood glucose from 13.02 ± 1.19 mmol L-1 in diabetic mice to 7.47 ± 1.18 and 9.87 ± 0.93 mmol L-1, respectively. At the molecular level, both treatments were associated with upregulation of insulin signaling-related genes (Insr, Irs1, Pik3r1, Pik3ca, and Akt1) and suppression of gluconeogenic genes (Foxo1, Pck1, and G6pc) in the liver. Notably, distinct functional patterns were observed. PEFP, particularly at high doses, showed stronger associations with restoration of insulin signaling and inhibition of gluconeogenesis, whereas PEBP was more closely associated with glucose utilization and glycogen storage. In addition, PEFP and PEBP inhibited jejunal α-glucosidase and α-amylase activities and altered gut microbiota composition. These findings demonstrate that PEFP and PEBP exert multifaceted antidiabetic effects, which were closely associated with the modulation of hepatic insulin signaling-related gene expression, intestinal carbohydrate digestion, and gut microbiota composition, highlighting their potential as functional food ingredients for T2DM management.
The π-conjugated [B3O6] groups have been one of the essential fundamental building blocks for designing large birefringent crystals used in the deep-ultraviolet optics. However, whether it is possible to realize the perfect coplanar alignment of the [B3O6] groups for maximizing optical anisotropy remains an outstanding problem. We propose a symmetry-inherited self-assembly strategy to realize ideal two-dimensional alignment of birefringent planar building blocks B3O3(OH)3 and [C(NH2)3]. During the hydrothermal process, B(OH)3 undergoes condensation to form planar B3O3(OH)3 units, while preserving the C3 h symmetry of the precursors. The resulting crystal, C(NH2)3B3O3(OH)3Cl, crystallizes in the hexagonal P63/m space group and exhibits the C6 h symmetry of the molecular building blocks. The alignments of all the atoms strictly conform to the restriction imposed by the mirror symmetry, forming an ideal two-dimensional layered configuration. This symmetry-preserved coplanar arrangement enforces the decoupling of in-plane and out-of-plane optical responses, thereby maximizing macroscopic anisotropy. As a result, C(NH2)3B3O3(OH)3Cl possess a large birefringence of 0.184 at 546 nm together with a wide bandgap of 6.8 eV. This "from high symmetry to high symmetry" strategy converts preferably microscopic planar anisotropy into macroscopic uniaxial optical anisotropy through self-assembly, offering a clear design principle for constructing highly anisotropic DUV optical crystals.
The rising prevalence of obesity underscores the need for safe, sustainable dietary interventions. Medicine-food homologous (MFH) citrus species possess nutritional and pharmacological potential, yet their functional diversity remains unclear. This study characterized the phytochemical profiles of five MFH citrus species (Daidaihua, Foshou, Huajuhong, Xinhui Chenpi, and Xiangyuan) and evaluated their comparative effects on the gut microbiota and obesity in healthy and high-fat-diet (HFD)-induced obese mice. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis revealed eight characteristic compounds, including three flavanone-O-glycosides (naringin, hesperidin, and neohesperidin), three polymethoxyflavones (PMFs; nobiletin, tangeretin, and 5-demethylnobiletin), one flavanone aglycone (naringenin), and one coumarin (5,7-dimethoxycoumarin), with each species exhibiting a distinct profile. All MFH citrus extracts were found to modulate the gut microbiota by increasing diversity, enriching beneficial genera (e.g., Akkermansia), and suppressing the opportunistic pathogen Staphylococcus. Metabolically, all MFH citrus extracts significantly lowered fasting or random glucose, although dynamic glucose tolerance was not significantly improved; Daidaihua, Huajuhong, and Xiangyuan reduced serum triglyceride levels, while Foshou increased serum HDL-C levels as well as inhibiting weight gain and white adipose tissue accumulation. The identified characteristic compounds are likely responsible for the observed bioactivities. These findings suggest species-specific metabolic benefits potentially linked to gut microbiota modulation of MFH citrus, providing a preliminary basis for the targeted development of citrus-derived functional foods for personalized nutrition.
The electrocatalytic reduction of carbon dioxide (CO2RR) is a promising technology for sustainable fuel and chemical production, offering a dual solution for climate change mitigation and carbon resource recycling. Nevertheless, the practical deployment of CO2RR is limited by some inherent bottlenecks, including low product selectivity, high overpotentials, and inadequate long-term stability. Recent investigations have demonstrated that fluorine-related modification possesses distinctive merits to boost CO2RR performance, such as tuning the electronic structure and interfacial microenvironment of catalysts. Most notably, it enables effective stabilization of high-valence active centers and regulation of catalyst dynamic reconstruction under cathodic conditions, offering advantages that can complement or, in some cases, outperform conventional modification strategies. However, fluorine modification also faces challenges, including potential trade-offs between hydrophobicity and mass transport, and limited scalability of current fluorination methods. A specialized review summarizing recent advances remains lacking. To fill this gap and provide a roadmap for rational catalyst design, this review summarizes the state-of-the-art progress of fluorine-modified CO2RR catalysts, including carbon materials, fluorine-doped metal catalysts, and organic substrate-modulated composite catalysts, aiming to clarify the structure-activity relationships. It also outlines the challenges and prospects associated with fluorine modification for CO2RR.
Chronic exertional compartment syndrome (CECS) is a frequently underdiagnosed cause of exercise-induced leg pain that is activity-dependent. We present the case of a 20-year-old female, high-performance contemporary dancer with an approximately three-year history of progressive leg pain refractory to an exhaustive multimodal conservative treatment including NSAIDs, neuromodulators, physiotherapy with myofascial release, and botulinum toxin infiltration of three compartments. Complementary diagnostic studies including musculoskeletal Doppler ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and electrodiagnostic studies yielded negative results, consistent with the dynamic nature of the condition. Based on the pathognomonic symptom pattern, imaging evolution, exclusion of neurological and vascular etiologies, and lack of results with conservative measures, a presumptive clinical diagnosis of multi-compartment CECS was established after exclusion of alternative diagnoses. In November 2025, the patient underwent ultrasound-guided percutaneous fasciotomy of the anterior, lateral, and superficial posterior compartments of the left leg via three minimally invasive incisions under regional anesthesia and sedation. Intraoperative reduction of compartmental tension was directly observed following each fascial release. A minor wound dehiscence resolved without further intervention. Serial visual analog scale (VAS) scores demonstrated progressive pain resolution (preoperative 9/10, three weeks 4/10, six weeks 3/10, three months 2/10, and six months 2/10), with a successful return-to-dance program protocol at final follow-up returning to old performance levels. This case highlights the diagnostic challenges of CECS in athletes, the limitations of conservative measures, and the technical feasibility of a simultaneous three-compartment ultrasound-guided percutaneous fasciotomy as a safe, effective, and minimally invasive solution.
The mode of reproduction is a key aspect for an organism to adapt to its environment. However, understanding the reproductive strategies in extinct animals from deep time remains challenging, due to the scarcity of fossils providing such information. Although viviparity is well-documented across various ichthyosaur lineages, our understanding of the reproductive characteristics of early-diverging Triassic taxa is still limited, particularly regarding their litter sizes. Here, we describe an exceptionally preserved gravid specimen of the Middle Triassic ichthyosaur Mixosaurus from southwestern China, containing at least eleven fetuses. This represents the largest litter sizes ever recorded in a Triassic ichthyosaur, and even one of the highest numbers of fetuses known in all ichthyosaurs. The well-articulated fetal skeletons exhibit consistent developmental stages and advanced ossification, indicating a late prenatal or perinatal state. Their variable body orientations further suggest the absence of a fixed head-first or tail-first birth posture. The presence of over ten fetuses in Mixosaurus demonstrates that high fecundity, potentially indicative of a more r- than K-selection reproductive strategy, had evolved early in ichthyosaur evolutionary history. This reproductive trait may have been a significant factor contributing to the success of this ichthyosaur group with enormous populations and widespread distribution across Northern Hemisphere during the Triassic.
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Male-specific peripubertal DNA demethylation in the liver has been reported in mouse. Here we investigated whether it also occurs in rats, the influence of maternal obesity and whether DNA demethylation changes contribute to observed sex-specific effects of maternal obesity in offspring. Female rats were fed a high-fat, high-sugar 'cafeteria' (Caf) diet before mating with standard chow-fed males. Offspring liver methylome and transcriptome was examined. Body weight was higher in Caf-fed dams prior to mating, during gestation and at parturition. Male and female offspring from Caf-fed dams had lower birth weights but higher adult weight and adiposity than offspring from chow-fed dams. Comparison of DNA methylation in 3-week-old weaner males versus female siblings from Chow-fed dams did not reveal the male-specific DNA demethylation that was previously reported in mouse. However, strong maternal diet effects in male weaner offspring methylation were observed. Comparison of female weaners from Chow- versusCaf-fed dams showed a range of differences, with 39% of Differentially Methylated Regions (DMRs) having higher methylation in Caf offspring and 61% of DMRs having higher methylation in Chow offspring. In stark contrast, 99% of maternal diet-induced DMRs in male weaner offspring had higher methylation in offspring from Caf-fed dams. This suggests maternal obesity induces widespread hypermethylation in their male offspring liver at weaning. However, comparison with RNA-seq data revealed limited transcriptional changes at this developmental stage, or in adult offspring. While these data highlight how environmentally-sensitive DNA methylation is in the male rodent peri-natal period, these methylation changes may not be a major contributor to sex-differences in developmentally-programmed liver disease.
The negative impact of excess adipose tissue on aerobic capacity in endurance athletes is now considered well-established. However, there is a lack of research examining this relationship in team sport athletes. Thirty-eight soccer players (mean age 23.60±4.22 years) from a leading Russian Premier League team participated in the study. On the first day of the pre-season training camp, participants underwent skinfold measurements according to the International Society for the Advancement of Kinanthropometry standards and a treadmill test with gas analysis. Correlation analysis showed moderate inverse associations between adiposity markers and VO<inf>2</inf>-derived outcomes. Higher body fat percentage was associated with lower relative VO<inf>2</inf>max and vVO<inf>2</inf>max, while the sum of eight skinfolds showed a similar direction of association. However, after FDR correction, these associations should be interpreted cautiously. In prespecified HC3-robust regression models, each 1 percentage point higher body fat was associated with -1.93 mL·kg-1·min-1 lower relative VO<inf>2</inf>max and -0.49 km·h-1 lower vVO<inf>2</inf>max. Each 10 mm higher sum of eight skinfolds was associated with -1.77 mL·kg-1·min-1 lower relative VO<inf>2</inf>max and -0.38 km·h-1 lower vVO<inf>2</inf>max. Model performance under leave-one-out cross-validation was limited, indicating weak individual-level predictive accuracy. Higher adiposity markers were directionally associated with lower relative VO<inf>2</inf>max and vVO<inf>2</inf>max in elite adult male soccer players. However, the cross-sectional design, modest sample size, high FDR-adjusted q-values, and limited cross-validated performance indicate that the findings should be interpreted as exploratory group-level associations rather than robust individual-level prediction.
This study investigated the effects of different velocity loss (VL) thresholds during squat exercise at 80% of one-repetition maximum (1RM) on post-activation performance enhancement (PAPE) in basketball players. Nineteen male collegiate basketball players completed three familiarization sessions and four randomized crossover experimental sessions: control (passive rest), 5% VL, 10% VL, and 20% VL. Countermovement jump height (JH), peak power output (PPO), and reactive strength index modified (RSIm) were measured pre-test and at 3-min and 8-min post-squat. Linear mixed-effects models (LMMs) evaluated the effects of time, condition, and mean-centered relative strength on the outcome variables and repetition counts. To identify responders who exhibited meaningful improvements in jump height, the smallest worthwhile change (SWC) was calculated. At the group level, no significant condition × time interactions or main effects of condition were observed for JH, PPO, or RSIm (p > 0.05), indicating no uniform PAPE effect across protocols. Furthermore, no statistically significant strength × time × condition interaction effects were observed. Repetition counts did not differ between the 5% and 10% VL conditions but were significantly lower in both conditions compared to the 20% VL condition (p < 0.01). Individual analysis showed the 20% VL condition yielded the highest number of responders (n = 11; 58%). Squat protocols using 5-20% VL at 80% 1RM did not produce significant group-level CMJ performance improvements, suggesting that a comprehensive warm-up may create a performance ceiling. Furthermore, these responses were not moderated by relative strength. However, the high inter-individual variability and responder rates at higher VL thresholds highlight the importance of individualized PAPE programming.
Sarcopenia, the age-related loss of muscle mass and strength, contributes to frailty and disability. Ultra-processed foods (UPFs) may increase risk via metabolic and inflammatory pathways. This study examined the association between UPF intake and sarcopenia in older Iranian adults. This cross-sectional study used data from the second phase of the Birjand Longitudinal Aging Study (BLAS). Sarcopenia was defined using EWGSOP2 criteria. Dietary intake was assessed with a validated food frequency questionnaire, and UPF consumption was categorised into quartiles based on energy contribution (NOVA classification). Logistic and multinomial regression models were applied, adjusting for demographic, behavioural, nutritional and clinical factors. Among 1006 participants (mean age 72.4 ± 6.5 years; 48.2% women), 29.1% had no sarcopenia, 54.4% probable sarcopenia, 8.7% confirmed sarcopenia and 7.7% severe sarcopenia. Higher UPF intake was associated with greater odds of sarcopenia in a dose-dependent manner. In fully adjusted logistic regression models, participants in the third and fourth quartiles of UPF consumption had significantly higher odds of sarcopenia compared with the lowest quartile (Q3: OR = 2.23, 95% CI: 1.17-4.23; P = .014; Q4: OR = 2.50, 95% CI: 1.32-4.74; P = .05). Multinomial analyses further demonstrated that high UPF intake was specifically associated with advanced sarcopenia stages (Q4 vs Q1: Coeff = 2.10, 95% CI: 1.05-4.18; P = .036). Higher UPF consumption was independently associated with both the presence and severity of sarcopenia. Reducing UPF intake may help preserve muscle health and lower disability risk in ageing populations.
BRAF inhibitors have advanced treatment for patients with BRAF-altered high and low-grade glioma (HGG and LGG, respectively). Clinically-available therapies are effective but require selection by mutation type and careful, proactive toxicity management to maximize patient quality of life and treatment duration. While pediatric LGG patients often experience durable responses, adults with LGG and patients with HGG frequently develop treatment resistance and disease progression while on treatment. Strategies to prevent or overcome resistant disease are under active preclinical and clinical investigation. This review serves as a primer to BRAF-altered therapy in glioma, outlines best practices for using available BRAF inhibitors, and highlights emerging therapeutic approaches aimed at improving outcomes in resistant disease. It serves as a forward-looking, practical guide for clinicians treating patients with BRAF-altered glioma.Article highlightsBRAF inhibitors are effective in both pediatric and adult low- and high-grade gliomas (LGG and HGG), but treatment should be tailored to the specific BRAF alteration (Table 1).Dabrafenib combined with trametinib is FDA-approved for BRAF V600E-mutant gliomas, while tovorafenib is approved for pediatric LGGs harboring BRAF V600 mutations or BRAF fusions.Proactive management, including anticipatory guidance and dose reduction for some patients, is essential to mitigate toxicity and avoid treatment interruptions.Tumor progression can occur during treatment interruptions or drug cessation; however, some patients may respond to BRAF inhibitor rechallenge.Emerging strategies focus on combination with other therapies including radiation, autophagy inhibitors, additional targeted agents, and others to overcome acquired resistance.Next-generation BRAF inhibitors-including paradox breakers, dimer disruptors, and protein degraders-are under clinical investigation (Table 2).
Metal hexacyanoferrates (MHCFs) are promising cathode materials for aqueous batteries owing to their high capacity and operating voltage. However, their electrochemical performance is often compromised by the presence of structural vacancies in the hexacyanoferrate framework. Conventional strategies to mitigate these vacancy defects typically rely on slowing the synthesis kinetics, which significantly reduces production throughput and hinders large-scale applications. Herein, we introduce a protonation-regulated coprecipitation (PRC) method that leverages the protonation equilibria of hexacyanoferrate (II/III) in an acidic medium, enabling the rapid and scalable synthesis of cobalt hexacyanoferrate (CoHCF). This approach achieves a high yield of approximately 90% within 15 min while maintaining low defect density. Adjusting the initial molar ratio of hexacyanoferrates enables effective modulation of the nucleation behavior of CoHCF and fine control over the particle geometry. The CoHCF with optimal geometry exhibits a high capacity of 159.4 mAh g-1 at a current density of 100 mA g-1 during sodium ion insertion-extraction. A corresponding H-type cell employing a Zn metal anode delivers an outstanding energy density of 236.6 Wh kg-1 with an energy efficiency of 93.0%. These results demonstrate the effectiveness of the PRC process in producing high-performance CoHCF, providing a scalable strategy for grid-scale aqueous energy storage technologies.
Sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) is a globally important C4 crop that contributes substantially to sugar production and renewable bioenergy systems. Modern sugarcane cultivars were derived from interspecific hybridization between high-sucrose S. officinarum and stress-resilient wild S. spontaneum, followed by extensive backcrossing and selection. Such breeding trajectory has generated an extremely complex polyploid genome marked by high ploidy, pervasive aneuploidy, mosaic subgenome composition, and a reticulate evolution history. For decades, this complexity has resulted in persistent taxonomic ambiguities, constrained genomic analyses, complicated genetic dissection of agronomic traits, and limited breeding efficiency. The rapid development of third-generation long-read sequencing, haplotype-resolved assembly, and polyploid-aware computational approaches has fundamentally revolutionized sugarcane research. This review synthesizes recent progress in Saccharum taxonomy, polyploid genome architecture and evolution, high-quality genomic resource development, germplasm exploration, and genome-informed breeding strategies. We propose an integrated framework connecting taxonomic refinement, genome biology, and breeding applications. Critical challenges are elaborated, including the taxonomy-genomics disconnect, diploid-centric analytical bias, insufficient haplotype resolution, the lack of polyploid-aware genetic models, and underutilization of wild germplasm. Finally, we outline future priorities toward predictive and design-oriented sugarcane improvement by addressing unresolved core questions. This review provides a comprehensive and forward-looking perspective for accelerating genetic improvement in sugarcane and other highly complex polyploid crops.
Randomised clinical trials have transformed nephrology, driving major advances in the management of chronic kidney disease. Their success, however, depends not only on robust methodology but also on the professionals who deliver the protocols. This study aims to describe and critically discuss the role of the research nurse in randomized clinical trials in nephrology, highlighting their contribution to trial conduct, data quality, and patient engagement. Research nurses now play a critical and increasingly recognised role at the interface of science, clinical care and patient experience. Their responsibilities include guiding informed consent, ensuring adherence to Good Clinical Practice, coordinating complex study procedures, and maintaining high-quality data. Evidence from European nephrology trials, including ROTATE-3, FINESSE and other multicentre platforms, demonstrates that structured nursing involvement improves recruitment, retention and data integrity. Research nurses also contribute to protocol optimisation, feasibility assessments and scientific reporting, highlighting their evolution into true clinical research partners. Formal recognition, specialised training pathways and institutional support are essential to consolidate this role. Strengthening research nursing is a strategic priority to enhance trial efficiency and to advance kidney research across Europe. These findings position research nurses as key drivers of both operational efficiency and scientific quality in modern nephrology trials.
Lifelong premature ejaculation (LPE) is a prevalent male sexual dysfunction with unclear neurobiological mechanisms. Despite its high prevalence, the etiology of LPE remains debated, often attributed to psychological or biological factors. Recent neuroimaging studies have highlighted the role of central nervous system dysregulation in sexual behavior. This study investigates abnormal brain functions and altered network connectivity in LPE patients after visual sexual stimuli (VSS) using functional magnetic resonance imaging. Twenty-five LPE patients and 31 healthy controls (HCs) underwent resting-state and task-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Clinical data, including sexual history, self-reported intravaginal ejaculatory latency time, International Index of Erectile Function-5, the Chinese Index of Premature Ejaculation, anxiety/depression scores, and serum testosterone levels, were collected. Neuroimaging preprocessing and analysis focused on amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation, fractional ALFF, and regional homogeneity. Task-state fMRI compared brain activation patterns after VSS. Statistical analyses included voxel-based comparisons and network connectivity assessments using SPM12 and DPABI v3.0. LPE patients demonstrate distinct neurofunctional abnormalities after VSS, particularly hyperactivation in the precuneus. ‌Clinical Data‌: LPE patients exhibited significantly lower International Index of Erectile Function-5 scores and higher depression rates compared to HCs, with no differences in age, BMI, or testosterone levels. Brain Activation‌: During VSS, LPE patients showed relative signal decrease in the middle cingulate cortex and left precentral gyrus compared to HCs. Regional homogeneity analysis revealed hyperactivation in the precuneus and fusiform gyrus post-stimulus. Network Connectivity‌: Altered connectivity in premature ejaculation patients involved the fusiform gyrus (linked to posterior cingulate, hippocampus, parahippocampus, and supplementary motor areas) and the superior parietal lobule (connected to the angular gyrus). These findings suggest that aberrant central nervous system processing of sexual stimuli contributes to premature ejaculation pathophysiology, offering potential targets for neuromodulatory therapies. The study focuses on the different activation patterns of patients with LPE from the perspective of sexual arousal. The methodological aspects of research, such as the use of images or videos in sexual stimulation, remain controversial. The findings of our network analysis only demonstrated a limited number of altered functional connections, and no established network metrics were provided to substantiate the claim of extensive network disruption. These factors collectively represent important limitations of the present study. The hyperactivity in this brain region observed in patients could represent a unique response to VSS among those with LPE, ultimately leading to alterations in their ejaculatory behavior.‌‌‌.
The role of C-reactive protein (CRP) in differentiating pyelonephritis from other types of urinary tract infection in dogs is not well defined. Compare serum CRP concentrations at diagnosis in dogs with acute pyelonephritis (APy), acute prostatitis (APr), and bacterial cystitis (BC). Serum CRP concentration is hypothesized to be higher in APy and APr than in BC. One hundred fifteen client-owned dogs were included: 56 with BC, 32 with APy, 23 with APr, and 4 with both APy and APr. Retrospective observational study. Dogs with positive urine culture were included and divided into 3 groups (BC, APy, and APr), based on medical history. Dogs with comorbidities potentially affecting CRP concentrations and dogs with subclinical bacteriuria were excluded. Data were compared among groups, and the diagnostic accuracy of CRP was assessed post-hoc. Dogs with BC had lower median CRP (1.04 mg/dL; range, 0.08-7.21) than those with APy (23.65 ± 11.96 mg/dL; median difference [MD], 22.9 mg/dL; 95% CI, 18.2-26.5; P < .001) and APr (20.9 mg/dL; range, 5.93-55.97; MD, 19.9 mg/dL; 95% CI, 10.7-25.6; P < .001), whereas APy and APr did not differ (MD, -3.0 mg/dL; 95% CI, -10.6 to 4.4; P > .99). Serum CRP concentration had high discriminative ability to differentiate dogs with BC and APy, APr, or both (area under the curve [AUC], 0.99; 95% CI, 0.99-1). Serum CRP concentration evaluated at diagnosis, when highly increased, may help differentiate BC from APy in dogs without concurrent inflammatory diseases.
Background Universal precautions are essential infection control measures aimed at preventing healthcare-associated infections and occupational exposure among healthcare workers (HCWs). However, compliance remains suboptimal, particularly in resource-limited settings. Objective The aim of this study was to assess the knowledge and compliance regarding universal precautions among the nursing staff at a tertiary care teaching hospital and identify gaps in infection control practices. Methods A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted from March to April 2026 among 40 nurses at Government Medical College, Datia, Madhya Pradesh, India. Participants were selected using simple random sampling. Data were collected using a validated structured questionnaire assessing knowledge (15 items) and compliance (20 items on a Likert scale). Statistical analysis was performed using Jamovi, version 2.6.44 (The jamovi Project, Sydney, NSW, Australia). Results Among the 40 nurses included in the study, 31 (77.5%) were aged 24-30 years, and 24 (60.0%) had 1.5-5 years of work experience. Adequate knowledge regarding universal precautions was observed among 31 (77.5%) nurses, while five (12.5%) demonstrated very good knowledge scores. Knowledge regarding key infection control practices was high, with 40 (100%) participants aware of hand hygiene between patients and 39 (97.5%) reporting correct knowledge regarding glove use for blood collection and avoidance of needle recapping. However, 34 (85.0%) nurses correctly recognized that the primary objective of universal precautions is not limited solely to protecting HCWs, while five (12.5%) believed that such precautions were required only for infected patients. Compliance with hand hygiene practices was high, with 36-38 nurses (90.0%-95.0%) consistently adhering to recommended practices. Similarly, adherence to glove use during high-risk procedures was observed among 37-39 nurses (92.5%-97.5%). Lower compliance was observed for glove use during injections among 22 (55.0%) nurses and for apron and cap/shoe-cover use among 26-27 nurses (65.0%-67.5%). Additionally, 4 (10.0%) nurses reported non-adherence to safe needle recapping and post-exposure management practices. Conclusion Despite adequate knowledge, a notable knowledge-practice gap exists among nurses. Strengthening training, ensuring personal protective equipment (PPE) availability, and reinforcing monitoring mechanisms are essential to improve compliance and enhance infection control practices.