The Relationship Between Adolescent Sense of Purpose, Poster Quality, and Intentional Self-Regulation

This paper investigates the relationship between sense of purpose, the quality of work related to a youth character education (CE) program, and intentional self-regulation (ISR) for adolescents participating in the Inspire\u3eAspire: Global Citizens in the Making (I\u3eA) Values Poster program. Relational developmental systems (RDS) meta-theory posits that individuals have the capacity to shape their own development and that positive development can be reached when individual assets are aligned with assets in the environment (Lerner, Lerner, von Eye, Bowers, & Lewin-Bizan, 2011). This agentic control over development is often referred to as ISR, which can be operationalized by the general model of human development proposed by lifespan theory: the Selection, Optimization, and Compensation (SOC) model (Freund & Baltes, 2002). This individual asset (ISR) is examined in relation to the contextual asset of I\u3eA participation (measured by the quality of the poster each pupil produces at the end of I\u3eA) and sense of purpose, a developmental outcome that has positive implications for youth and their communities. A mediation model is utilized to test this relationship in Scottish youth (mean age = 13) participating in I\u3eA during the 2014-2015 school year. Quantitative results indicate that pupils’ sense of purpose at Wave 1 was related to their poster quality scores. Qualitative analyses revealed ties between ISR and sense of purpose. Limitations, future directions, and practical implications are discussed

A single faecal bile acid stool test demonstrates potential efficacy in replacing SeHCAT testing for bile acid diarrhoea in selected patients

© 2022 The Authors. Published by Springer Nature. This is an open access article available under a Creative Commons licence. The published version can be accessed at the following link on the publisher’s website: https: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-12003-zThis study examines the validity of measuring faecal bile acids (FBA) in a single stool sample as a diagnostic tool for bile acid diarrhoea (BAD) by direct comparison to the 75selenium-homotaurocholic acid (SeHCAT) scan. A prospective observational study was undertaken. Patients with chronic diarrhoea (> 6 weeks) being investigated for potential BAD with SeHCAT scan provided stool samples for measurement of FBA, using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Patients were characterised into four groups: SeHCAT negative control group, post-cholecystectomy, idiopathic BAD and post-operative terminal ileal resected Crohn's disease. Stool samples were collected at baseline and 8-weeks post treatment to determine whether FBA measurement could be used to monitor therapeutic response. 113 patients had a stool sample to directly compare with their SeHCAT result. FBA concentrations (μmol/g) and interquartile ranges in patients in the control group (2.8; 1.6-4.2), BAD (3.6; 1.9-7.2) and post-cholecystectomy cohort 3.8 (2.3-6.8) were similar, but all were significantly lower (p  15% (2.6; 1.6-4.2); (p < 0.001 and p < 0.0001, respectively). The sensitivity and specificity using FBA cut-off of 1.6 μmol/g (using ≤ 15% SeHCAT retention as diagnostic of BAD) were 90% and 25% respectively. A single random stool sample may have potential use in diagnosing severe BAD or BAD in Crohn's patients. Larger studies are now needed to confirm the potential efficacy of this test to accurately diagnose BAD in the absence of SeHCAT testing.The research department of MJB received project funding from Bowel and Cancer Research for part of this work; The research department of MJB received project funding from an unrestricted grant from Tillotts Pharma for part of this work.Published versio

Absence of RKIP expression is an independent prognostic biomarker for gastric cancer patients

Gastric cancer is a leading cause of cancer-related mortality, and the presence of lymph node metastasis an important prognostic factor. Downregulation of RKIP has been associated with tumor progression and metastasis in several types of neoplasms, being currently categorized as a metastasis suppressor gene. Our aim was to determine the expression levels of RKIP in gastric tissues and to evaluate its impact in the clinical outcome of gastric carcinoma patients. RKIP expression levels were studied by immunohistochemistry in a series of gastric tissues. Overall, we analysed 222 non-neoplastic gastric tissues, 152 primary tumors and 42 lymph node metastasis samples. We observed that RKIP was highly expressed in ~83% of non-neoplastic tissues (including normal tissue and metaplasia), was lost in ~56% of primary tumors and in ~90% of lymph node metastasis samples. Loss of RKIP expression was significantly associated with several markers of poor clinical outcome, including the presence of lymph node metastasis. Furthermore, the absence of RKIP protein constitutes an independent prognostic marker for these patients. In conclusion, RKIP expression is significantly lost during gastric carcinoma progression being almost absent in lymph node metastasis samples. Of note, we showed that the absence of RKIP expression is associated with poor outcome features of gastric cancer patients, this being also an independent prognostic marker.Olga Martinho was recipient of a PhD fellowship (SFRH/BD/36463/2007) from Fundacao para a Ciencia e Tecnologia (FCT), Portugal

ABORDAGENS INOVADORAS NO DIAGNÓSTICO PRECOCE DO GLAUCOMA

&nbsp;In the continuous search for advances in the ophthalmological field, innovative approaches to the early diagnosis of glaucoma emerge as a crucial answer. The implementation of advanced imaging technologies and monitoring methods offers a promising prospect for identifying signs of the disease early, enabling more effective interventions. Objectives: Explore innovative approaches to early diagnosis of glaucoma. Methodology:&nbsp; The articles found were read, upon reading the articles were subjected to inclusion and exclusion criteria, within the inclusion criteria original articles were considered, which addressed the topic researched and allowed full access to the content of the study, published in the period of 2015 to 2023, in Portuguese and English, totaling 19 articles for the present study. The research was carried out through online access to the National Library of Medicine (PubMed MEDLINE), Scientific Electronic Library Online (SCIELO), Latin American and Caribbean Literature in Health Sciences (LILACS) databases in March 2024. Results and Discussions:&nbsp; Innovative approaches to the early diagnosis of glaucoma present promising advances in effective detection of the disease. The application of advanced imaging technologies, such as optical coherence tomography (OCT), has demonstrated remarkable sensitivity in identifying early structural changes, providing a solid foundation for timely interventions. The importance of these approaches in the clinical context, highlighting how early detection can positively influence the course of the disease. Furthermore, the personalization of care, made possible by these technologies, emerges as a determining factor in the approach to glaucoma, adapting to the specific needs of each patient. Conclusion: In summary, the results presented reinforce the positive impact of innovative approaches in the early diagnosis of glaucoma. The enhanced sensitivity provided by advanced imaging technologies highlights their crucial role in early identification of ocular changes. This conclusion highlights the continued importance of research and implementation of these approaches to improve the effectiveness of ophthalmological care, contributing significantly to the preservation of vision and quality of life for patients affected by glaucoma.Na busca contínua por avanços na área oftalmológica, as abordagens inovadoras no diagnóstico precoce do glaucoma emergem como uma resposta crucial. A implementação de tecnologias avançadas de imagem e métodos de monitoramento oferece uma perspectiva promissora para identificar precocemente os sinais da doença, possibilitando intervenções mais eficazes. Objetivos: Explorar abordagens inovadoras para o diagnóstico precoce do glaucoma. Metodologia: &nbsp;Foi realizada a leitura dos artigos encontrados, mediante a leitura, os artigos foram submetidos a critérios de inclusão e de exclusão, dentre os de inclusão foram considerados artigos originais, que abordassem o tema pesquisado e permitissem acesso integral ao conteúdo do estudo, publicados no período de 2015 a 2023, em português e em inglês, totalizando 19 artigos para o presente estudo. A pesquisa foi realizada através do acesso online nas bases de dados National Library of Medicine (PubMed MEDLINE), Scientific Electronic Library Online (SCIELO), Literatura Latino-Americana e do Caribe em Ciências da Saúde (LILACS) no mês de março de 2024. Resultados e Discussões:&nbsp; As abordagens inovadoras no diagnóstico precoce do glaucoma apresentam promissores avanços na detecção eficaz da doença. A aplicação de tecnologias avançadas de imagem, como a tomografia de coerência óptica (OCT), demonstrou uma sensibilidade notável na identificação de alterações estruturais precoces, proporcionando uma base sólida para intervenções tempestivas. A importância dessas abordagens no contexto clínico, ressaltando como a detecção precoce pode influenciar positivamente o curso da doença. Além disso, a personalização dos cuidados, viabilizada por essas tecnologias, emerge como um fator determinante na abordagem do glaucoma, adaptando-se às necessidades específicas de cada paciente. Conclusão: Em síntese, os resultados apresentados reforçam o impacto positivo das abordagens inovadoras no diagnóstico precoce do glaucoma. A sensibilidade aprimorada proporcionada por tecnologias avançadas de imagem destaca seu papel crucial na identificação precoce de alterações oculares. Esta conclusão ressalta a importância contínua da pesquisa e implementação dessas abordagens para melhorar a eficácia dos cuidados oftalmológicos, contribuindo, significativamente, para a preservação da visão e qualidade de vida dos pacientes afetados pelo glaucoma

Global Retinoblastoma Presentation and Analysis by National Income Level.

Importance: Early diagnosis of retinoblastoma, the most common intraocular cancer, can save both a child's life and vision. However, anecdotal evidence suggests that many children across the world are diagnosed late. To our knowledge, the clinical presentation of retinoblastoma has never been assessed on a global scale. Objectives: To report the retinoblastoma stage at diagnosis in patients across the world during a single year, to investigate associations between clinical variables and national income level, and to investigate risk factors for advanced disease at diagnosis. Design, Setting, and Participants: A total of 278 retinoblastoma treatment centers were recruited from June 2017 through December 2018 to participate in a cross-sectional analysis of treatment-naive patients with retinoblastoma who were diagnosed in 2017. Main Outcomes and Measures: Age at presentation, proportion of familial history of retinoblastoma, and tumor stage and metastasis. Results: The cohort included 4351 new patients from 153 countries; the median age at diagnosis was 30.5 (interquartile range, 18.3-45.9) months, and 1976 patients (45.4%) were female. Most patients (n = 3685 [84.7%]) were from low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Globally, the most common indication for referral was leukocoria (n = 2638 [62.8%]), followed by strabismus (n = 429 [10.2%]) and proptosis (n = 309 [7.4%]). Patients from high-income countries (HICs) were diagnosed at a median age of 14.1 months, with 656 of 666 (98.5%) patients having intraocular retinoblastoma and 2 (0.3%) having metastasis. Patients from low-income countries were diagnosed at a median age of 30.5 months, with 256 of 521 (49.1%) having extraocular retinoblastoma and 94 of 498 (18.9%) having metastasis. Lower national income level was associated with older presentation age, higher proportion of locally advanced disease and distant metastasis, and smaller proportion of familial history of retinoblastoma. Advanced disease at diagnosis was more common in LMICs even after adjusting for age (odds ratio for low-income countries vs upper-middle-income countries and HICs, 17.92 [95% CI, 12.94-24.80], and for lower-middle-income countries vs upper-middle-income countries and HICs, 5.74 [95% CI, 4.30-7.68]). Conclusions and Relevance: This study is estimated to have included more than half of all new retinoblastoma cases worldwide in 2017. Children from LMICs, where the main global retinoblastoma burden lies, presented at an older age with more advanced disease and demonstrated a smaller proportion of familial history of retinoblastoma, likely because many do not reach a childbearing age. Given that retinoblastoma is curable, these data are concerning and mandate intervention at national and international levels. Further studies are needed to investigate factors, other than age at presentation, that may be associated with advanced disease in LMICs

Mitochondrial physiology

As the knowledge base and importance of mitochondrial physiology to evolution, health and disease expands, the necessity for harmonizing the terminology concerning mitochondrial respiratory states and rates has become increasingly apparent. The chemiosmotic theory establishes the mechanism of energy transformation and coupling in oxidative phosphorylation. The unifying concept of the protonmotive force provides the framework for developing a consistent theoretical foundation of mitochondrial physiology and bioenergetics. We follow the latest SI guidelines and those of the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) on terminology in physical chemistry, extended by considerations of open systems and thermodynamics of irreversible processes. The concept-driven constructive terminology incorporates the meaning of each quantity and aligns concepts and symbols with the nomenclature of classical bioenergetics. We endeavour to provide a balanced view of mitochondrial respiratory control and a critical discussion on reporting data of mitochondrial respiration in terms of metabolic flows and fluxes. Uniform standards for evaluation of respiratory states and rates will ultimately contribute to reproducibility between laboratories and thus support the development of data repositories of mitochondrial respiratory function in species, tissues, and cells. Clarity of concept and consistency of nomenclature facilitate effective transdisciplinary communication, education, and ultimately further discovery

Mitochondrial physiology

As the knowledge base and importance of mitochondrial physiology to evolution, health and disease expands, the necessity for harmonizing the terminology concerning mitochondrial respiratory states and rates has become increasingly apparent. The chemiosmotic theory establishes the mechanism of energy transformation and coupling in oxidative phosphorylation. The unifying concept of the protonmotive force provides the framework for developing a consistent theoretical foundation of mitochondrial physiology and bioenergetics. We follow the latest SI guidelines and those of the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) on terminology in physical chemistry, extended by considerations of open systems and thermodynamics of irreversible processes. The concept-driven constructive terminology incorporates the meaning of each quantity and aligns concepts and symbols with the nomenclature of classical bioenergetics. We endeavour to provide a balanced view of mitochondrial respiratory control and a critical discussion on reporting data of mitochondrial respiration in terms of metabolic flows and fluxes. Uniform standards for evaluation of respiratory states and rates will ultimately contribute to reproducibility between laboratories and thus support the development of data repositories of mitochondrial respiratory function in species, tissues, and cells. Clarity of concept and consistency of nomenclature facilitate effective transdisciplinary communication, education, and ultimately further discovery

Search for dark matter produced in association with bottom or top quarks in √s = 13 TeV pp collisions with the ATLAS detector

A search for weakly interacting massive particle dark matter produced in association with bottom or top quarks is presented. Final states containing third-generation quarks and miss- ing transverse momentum are considered. The analysis uses 36.1 fb−1 of proton–proton collision data recorded by the ATLAS experiment at √s = 13 TeV in 2015 and 2016. No significant excess of events above the estimated backgrounds is observed. The results are in- terpreted in the framework of simplified models of spin-0 dark-matter mediators. For colour- neutral spin-0 mediators produced in association with top quarks and decaying into a pair of dark-matter particles, mediator masses below 50 GeV are excluded assuming a dark-matter candidate mass of 1 GeV and unitary couplings. For scalar and pseudoscalar mediators produced in association with bottom quarks, the search sets limits on the production cross- section of 300 times the predicted rate for mediators with masses between 10 and 50 GeV and assuming a dark-matter mass of 1 GeV and unitary coupling. Constraints on colour- charged scalar simplified models are also presented. Assuming a dark-matter particle mass of 35 GeV, mediator particles with mass below 1.1 TeV are excluded for couplings yielding a dark-matter relic density consistent with measurements