Implicit, automatic semantic word categorisation in the left occipito-temporal cortex as revealed by fast periodic visual stimulation.

Conceptual knowledge allows the categorisation of items according to their meaning beyond their physical similarities. This ability to respond to different stimuli (e.g., a leek, a cabbage, etc.) based on similar semantic representations (e.g., belonging to the vegetable category) is particularly important for language processing, because word meaning and the stimulus form are unrelated. The neural basis of this core human ability is debated and is complicated by the strong reliance of most neural measures on explicit tasks, involving many non-semantic processes. Here we establish an implicit method, i.e., fast periodic visual stimulation (FPVS) coupled with electroencephalography (EEG), to study neural conceptual categorisation processes with written word stimuli. Fourteen neurotypical participants were presented with different written words belonging to the same semantic category (e.g., different animals) alternating at 4 Hz rate. Words from a different semantic category (e.g., different cities) appeared every 4 stimuli (i.e., at 1 Hz). Following a few minutes of recording, objective electrophysiological responses at 1 Hz, highlighting the human brain's ability to implicitly categorize stimuli belonging to distinct conceptual categories, were found over the left occipito-temporal region. Topographic differences were observed depending on whether the periodic change involved living items, associated with relatively more ventro-temporal activity as compared to non-living items associated with relatively more dorsal posterior activity. Overall, this study demonstrates the validity and high sensitivity of an implicit frequency-tagged marker of word-based semantic memory abilities

Women\u27s preferences for selective estrogen reuptake modulators: an investigation using the time trade off technique

PurposeSelective Estrogen Receptor Modulators (SERMs) reduce the risk of breast cancer for women at increased risk by 38%. However, uptake is extremely low and the reasons for this are not completely understood. The aims of this study were to utilize time trade-off methods to determine the degree of risk reduction required to make taking SERMs worthwhile to women, and the factors associated with requiring greater risk reduction to take SERMs. MethodsWomen at increased risk of breast cancer (N = 107) were recruited from two familial cancer clinics in Australia. Participants completed a questionnaire either online or in pen and paper format. Hierarchical multiple linear regression analysis was used to analyze the data. ResultsOverall, there was considerable heterogeneity in the degree of risk reduction required to make taking SERMs worthwhile. Women with higher perceived breast cancer risk and those with stronger intentions to undergo (or who had undergone) an oophorectomy required a smaller degree of risk reduction to consider taking SERMs worthwhile. ConclusionWomen at increased familial risk appear motivated to consider SERMs for prevention. A tailored approach to communicating about medical prevention is essential. Health professionals could usefully highlight the absolute (rather than relative) probability of side effects and take into account an individual’s perceived (rather than objective) risk of breast cancer

“Lupus means sacrifices” – the perspectives of adolescents and young adults with systemic lupus erythematosus.

Background: Disease activity, organ damage and treatment burden are often substantial in children and adolescents with systemic lupus erythematous (SLE), and the complex interplay among the developing child, their parents, and their peers makes effective management difficult. We aimed to describe the experiences and perspectives of adolescents and young adults diagnosed with juvenile-onset SLE to inform strategies for improving treatment and health outcomes. Methods: Focus groups and face-to-face semi-structured interviews were conducted with 26 patients aged 14 to 26 years, from five Australian hospitals in 2013-2014. Focus groups and interview transcripts were thematically analyzed. Results: Five themes were identified: marring identity (misrepresented self, heightened self-consciousness, sense of isolation); restricting major life decisions (narrowed career options, threat to parenthood); multifaceted confusion and uncertainty (frustration of delayed or misdiagnosis, needing age and culturally appropriate information, ambiguity about cause of symptoms, prognostic uncertainty, confronting transition to adult care); resentment of long-term treatment (restricting ambition, animosity towards medication use); gaining resilience (desire for independence, developing self-reliance, recalibrating perceived disease severity, depending on family, trusting physicians). Conclusions: Young patients with SLE perceive they have substantially limited physical and social capacities and restricted personal and career goals. Psychosocial and educational interventions targeted at improving confidence, self-efficacy, disease-related knowledge, social support, and resolving insecurities regarding patients’ capacity for self-management may alleviate psychosocial distress, improve adherence, and thus optimize health outcomes of adolescents and young adults with SLE.DJT is funded by a postgraduate scholarship from the Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney. All authors have no relevant financial affiliations that would cause a conflict of interes

Effect of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor and angiotensin receptor blocker initiation on organ support-free days in patients hospitalized with COVID-19

IMPORTANCE Overactivation of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) may contribute to poor clinical outcomes in patients with COVID-19. Objective To determine whether angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor or angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) initiation improves outcomes in patients hospitalized for COVID-19. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS In an ongoing, adaptive platform randomized clinical trial, 721 critically ill and 58 non–critically ill hospitalized adults were randomized to receive an RAS inhibitor or control between March 16, 2021, and February 25, 2022, at 69 sites in 7 countries (final follow-up on June 1, 2022). INTERVENTIONS Patients were randomized to receive open-label initiation of an ACE inhibitor (n = 257), ARB (n = 248), ARB in combination with DMX-200 (a chemokine receptor-2 inhibitor; n = 10), or no RAS inhibitor (control; n = 264) for up to 10 days. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES The primary outcome was organ support–free days, a composite of hospital survival and days alive without cardiovascular or respiratory organ support through 21 days. The primary analysis was a bayesian cumulative logistic model. Odds ratios (ORs) greater than 1 represent improved outcomes. RESULTS On February 25, 2022, enrollment was discontinued due to safety concerns. Among 679 critically ill patients with available primary outcome data, the median age was 56 years and 239 participants (35.2%) were women. Median (IQR) organ support–free days among critically ill patients was 10 (–1 to 16) in the ACE inhibitor group (n = 231), 8 (–1 to 17) in the ARB group (n = 217), and 12 (0 to 17) in the control group (n = 231) (median adjusted odds ratios of 0.77 [95% bayesian credible interval, 0.58-1.06] for improvement for ACE inhibitor and 0.76 [95% credible interval, 0.56-1.05] for ARB compared with control). The posterior probabilities that ACE inhibitors and ARBs worsened organ support–free days compared with control were 94.9% and 95.4%, respectively. Hospital survival occurred in 166 of 231 critically ill participants (71.9%) in the ACE inhibitor group, 152 of 217 (70.0%) in the ARB group, and 182 of 231 (78.8%) in the control group (posterior probabilities that ACE inhibitor and ARB worsened hospital survival compared with control were 95.3% and 98.1%, respectively). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE In this trial, among critically ill adults with COVID-19, initiation of an ACE inhibitor or ARB did not improve, and likely worsened, clinical outcomes. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT0273570

Strengthening Relationship And Psychosocial Outcomes In Living Kidney Donation: Perspectives Of Donors, Recipients And Clinicians

The unmet demand for organ donation has necessitated widespread acceptance of living kidney donation which is associated with better survival and quality of life for most recipients compared with deceased donor transplantation and dialysis. More than 60% of living kidney donations in the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand are from spousal and biologically related donors. Many of these donors are willing to accept the risks of donating a kidney to improve outcomes for their recipient. However, donors and recipients must navigate potential changes to interpersonal dynamics, roles, and responsibilities during and after the donation process. Donor-recipient relationships are complex, nuanced and value laden and can be challenging to evaluate during the transplant work-up and can present unexpected challenges for donor and recipients. Also, potential conflicts and tensions may remain unaddressed and unresolved after the transplant. Further, while the literature on the risks of donation are expanding, there are no data describing experiences of individuals who were deemed ineligible for donation. Such individuals disappear from view from the transplant centre and there is ambiguity surrounding their status as patients. This is a thesis by publication containing published and submitted work. The aims of the studies included in this thesis are: 1) to describe the donor and recipient perspectives on the donor-recipient relationship in living kidney donation, across different populations and healthcare contexts. 2) to describe donor and recipient expectations and views of their relationship before and after living kidney transplantation. 3) to describe the attitudes and approaches of transplant clinicians to evaluating the donor-recipient relationship.4) to describe the perspectives of potential donors on their experience and consequences of being deemed ineligible as a living kidney donor

Isolation of bacteriophage specfic to pseudomonas aeruginosa BIOTECH 1335 strain from raw sewage water of local sewage treatment plant in Cavite

This research employed a descriptive design wherein it utilized a systematic and scientific approach in collecting raw sewage water samples and tested them with the employed methods to observe the formation of bacteriophage which is focused on gathering numerical data and using it to explain a reliable result. The results of the study showed that the double layer agar technique shows that the formation of plaques indicates a presence of bacteriophage and the statistic shows that the mean number of plaques in the sewage group is significantly higher than that in the control group with a data of t=10.499, 95% Cl 16.95, 24.87;

Healthcare and research priorities of adolescents and young adults with systemic lupus erythematosus: a mixed-methods study

Objectives: Managing juvenile-onset systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is particularly challenging. The disease may be severe, adolescent patients have complex medical and psychosocial needs, and they must navigate the transition to adult services. To inform patient-centered care, we aimed to identify the healthcare and research priorities of young patients with SLE and describe the reasons underpinning their priorities. Methods: Face-to-face, semi-structured interviews and focus groups were conducted with patients with SLE, aged from 14 to 26 years, from five centers in Australia. For each of the five allocation exercises, participants allocated ten votes to 1) research topics; research questions on 2) medical management, 3) prevention and diagnosis, 4) lifestyle and psychosocial; and 5) healthcare specialties, and discussed the reasons for their choices. Descriptive statistics were calculated for votes and qualitative data were analyzed thematically. Results: The 26 participants prioritized research that alleviated the psychological burden of SLE. They allocated their votes towards medical and mental health specialties in the management of SLE, whilst fewer votes were given to physiotherapy/occupational therapy and dietetics. Seven themes underpinned participants’ priorities: improving service shortfalls, strengthening well-being, ensuring cost efficiency, minimizing family/community burden, severity of comorbidity or complications, reducing lifestyle disruption, and fulfilling future goals. Conclusions: Young patients with SLE value comprehensive care with greater coordination among specialties. They prioritized research focused on alleviating poor psychological outcomes. The healthcare and research agenda for patients with SLE should involve all stakeholders, to ensure they align with patient priorities, needs, and values.Non

Young SLE patients' priorities Personal non-commercial use only

ABSTRACT. Objective. Managing juvenile-onset systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is particularly challenging. The disease may be severe, adolescent patients have complex medical and psychosocial needs, and patients must navigate the transition to adult services. To inform patient-centered care, we aimed to identify the healthcare and research priorities of young patients with SLE and describe the reasons underpinning their priorities. Methods. Face-to-face, semistructured interviews and focus groups were conducted with patients with SLE, aged from 14 to 26 years, from 5 centers in Australia. For each of the 5 allocation exercises, participants allocated 10 votes to (1) research topics; research questions on (2) medical management, (3) prevention and diagnosis, (4) lifestyle and psychosocial; and (5) healthcare specialties, and discussed the reasons for their choices. Descriptive statistics were calculated for votes and qualitative data were analyzed thematically. Results. The 26 participants prioritized research that alleviated the psychological burden of SLE. They allocated their votes toward medical and mental health specialties in the management of SLE, while fewer votes were given to physiotherapy/occupational therapy and dietetics. The following 7 themes underpinned the participants' priorities: improving service shortfalls, strengthening well-being, ensuring cost efficiency, minimizing family/community burden, severity of comorbidity or complications, reducing lifestyle disruption, and fulfilling future goals. Conclusion. Young patients with SLE value comprehensive care with greater coordination among specialties. They prioritized research focused on alleviating poor psychological outcomes. The healthcare and research agenda for patients with SLE should include everyone involved, to ensure that the agenda aligns with patient priorities, needs, and values