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Lipids in Health and Disease Jun 2024Digestive system cancers represent a significant global health challenge and are attributed to a combination of demographic and lifestyle changes. Lipidomics has emerged...
BACKGROUND
Digestive system cancers represent a significant global health challenge and are attributed to a combination of demographic and lifestyle changes. Lipidomics has emerged as a pivotal area in cancer research, suggesting that alterations in lipid metabolism are closely linked to cancer development. However, the causal relationship between specific lipid profiles and digestive system cancer risk remains unclear.
METHODS
Using a two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) approach, we elucidated the causal relationships between lipidomic profiles and the risk of five types of digestive system cancer: stomach, liver, esophageal, pancreatic, and colorectal cancers. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect impact of developing lipid profiles on the risk of digestive system cancers utilizing data from public databases such as the GWAS Catalog and the UK Biobank. The inverse‒variance weighted (IVW) method and other strict MR methods were used to evaluate the potential causal links. In addition, we performed sensitivity analyses and reverse MR analyses to ensure the robustness of the results.
RESULTS
Significant causal relationships were identified between certain lipidomic traits and the risk of developing digestive system cancers. Elevated sphingomyelin (d40:1) levels were associated with a reduced risk of developing gastric cancer (odds ratio (OR) = 0.68, P < 0.001), while elevated levels of phosphatidylcholine (16:1_20:4) increased the risk of developing esophageal cancer (OR = 1.31, P = 0.02). Conversely, phosphatidylcholine (18:2_0:0) had a protective effect against colorectal cancer (OR = 0.86, P = 0.036). The bidirectional analysis did not suggest reverse causality between cancer risk and lipid levels. Strict MR methods demonstrated the robustness of the above causal relationships.
CONCLUSION
Our findings underscore the significant causal relationships between specific lipidomic traits and the risk of developing various digestive system cancers, highlighting the potential of lipid profiles in informing cancer prevention and treatment strategies. These results reinforce the value of MR in unraveling complex lipid-cancer interactions, offering new avenues for research and clinical application.
Topics: Humans; Mendelian Randomization Analysis; Digestive System Neoplasms; Genome-Wide Association Study; Lipid Metabolism; Lipids; Risk Factors; Lipidomics; Genetic Predisposition to Disease; Sphingomyelins; Esophageal Neoplasms
PubMed: 38937739
DOI: 10.1186/s12944-024-02191-0 -
The Journal of Headache and Pain Jun 2024Our recent studies have shown headache disorders to be very common in the central and western sub-Saharan countries of Benin and Cameroon. Here we report headache in...
BACKGROUND
Our recent studies have shown headache disorders to be very common in the central and western sub-Saharan countries of Benin and Cameroon. Here we report headache in nearby Mali, a strife-torn country that differs topographically, culturally, politically and economically. The purposes were to estimate headache-attributed burden and need for headache care.
METHODS
We used cluster-random sampling in seven of Mali's eleven regions to obtain a nationally representative sample. During unannounced household visits by trained interviewers, one randomly selected adult member (18-65 years) from each household was interviewed using the structured HARDSHIP questionnaire, with enquiries into headache in the last year and, additionally, headache yesterday (HY). Headache on ≥ 15 days/month (H15+) was diagnosed as probable medication-overuse headache (pMOH) when associated with acute medication use on ≥ 15 days/month, and as "other H15+" when not. Episodic headache (on < 15 days/month) was recorded as such and not further diagnosed. Burden was assessed as impaired participation (days lost from paid and household work, and from leisure activity). Need for headache care was defined by criteria for expectation of benefit.
RESULTS
Data collection coincided with the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. The participating proportion was nonetheless extremely high (99.4%). The observed 1-year prevalence of any headache was 90.9%. Age- and gender-adjusted estimates were 86.3% for episodic headache, 1.4% for pMOH and 3.1% for other H15+. HY was reported by 16.8% with a mean duration of 8.7 h. Overall mean headache frequency was 3.5 days/month. Participants with pMOH lost more days from paid (8.8 days/3 months) and household work (10.3 days/3 months) than those with other H15+ (3.1 and 2.8 days/3 months) or episodic headache (1.2 and 0.9 days/3 months). At population level, 3.6-5.8% of all time was spent with headache, which led to a 3.6% decrease in all activity (impaired participation). Almost a quarter (23.4%) of Mali's adult population need headache care.
CONCLUSION
Headache is very common in Mali, as in its near neighbours, Benin and Cameroon, and associated with substantial losses of health and productivity. Need for headache care is high - a challenge for a low-income country - but lost productivity probably translates into lost gross domestic product.
Topics: Humans; Adult; Mali; Male; Female; Middle Aged; Cross-Sectional Studies; Young Adult; Adolescent; Cost of Illness; Headache; Needs Assessment; Aged; Prevalence
PubMed: 38937699
DOI: 10.1186/s10194-024-01811-5 -
BMC Psychiatry Jun 2024Burnout syndrome attributable to cumulative stressors is highly prevalent among teachers. Despite this, knowledge of burnout syndrome among schoolteachers in...
BACKGROUND
Burnout syndrome attributable to cumulative stressors is highly prevalent among teachers. Despite this, knowledge of burnout syndrome among schoolteachers in lower-middle-income countries are limited, therefore we aimed to investigate self-reported occupational burnout syndrome and associated factors among schoolteachers in Nepal.
METHODS
A survey was conducted among randomly selected 37 community schools in Kathmandu, Nepal in 2022, with a total sample of 218 schoolteachers (70% male). Occupational burnout was assessed using the Nepali version of the validated Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI-ES). MBI-ES consists of 22 items assessing occupational burnout, which were classified into emotional exhaustion (EE, 9 items, score range: 0-45), depersonalization (DP, 5 items, 0-23), and personal accomplishment (PA, 8 items; 3-48). The greater score in EE and DP and the lower score in PA indicate a higher level of burnout. Various socio-demographic, lifestyle, and work-related factors were examined as determinants of occupational burnout using ANOVA and multivariable linear regression models.
RESULTS
The mean scores of EE, DP, and PA were 14.99 (Standard Deviation, SD = 9.79), 4.18 (SD = 4.57), and 42.11 (SD = 6.82) respectively. Poor/moderate work ability contributed to poorer ratings of all three dimensions. Teaching special needs students contributed to EE and DP, whereas low physical activity and alcohol intake were associated with PA only. Younger age, being married, language of teaching, having a disability, sub-optimal physical fitness, poor sleep quality, and ever smoking contributed to EE only.
CONCLUSION
Occupational burnout among schoolteachers was relatively high. Marital status, lifestyle behavioral, and work-related factors were associated especially with EE and workability was a strong determinant of all three dimensions.
CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER
NCT05626543.
Topics: Humans; Male; Burnout, Professional; Nepal; School Teachers; Cross-Sectional Studies; Adult; Female; Middle Aged
PubMed: 38937696
DOI: 10.1186/s12888-024-05923-9 -
Scientific Reports Jun 2024Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) fruit quality depends on many traits including visual, biochemical and mineral characteristics. One of the negative traits is aril...
Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) fruit quality depends on many traits including visual, biochemical and mineral characteristics. One of the negative traits is aril whitening (AW) which is a frequently observed disorder in hot and dry climates, that leads to decline in desirable fruit quality. Color, antioxidant, and mineral contents of the arils are of prime importance as quality traits. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the effect of shading and foliar minerals on fruit quality during the fruit development stages of pomegranate. Treatments included shaded (50% green net) and unshaded trees and foliar application of trees with potassium sulfate (K, 1% and 2%) or sodium silicate (Si, 0.05, 0.1 and 0.15%) during two growing seasons. Results showed that the severity of AW at harvest decreased significantly when trees were covered with shading compared to control. The color values of L* and ⁰hue for arils were lower in fruits grown under shading conditions indicating darker red arils. Shading significantly reduced chilling injury in cold storage compared to open field fruits. Shading and Si 0.15% increased superoxide dismutase, and catalase enzymes activity while decreased Polyphenol oxidase and peroxidase. Covering trees with shading and Si 0.15% spray resulted in the highest total anthocyanin, antioxidant activity, and total phenolics content in the arils. Shading as well as Si 0.15% increased macronutrients content of the arils. The study concluded that covering pomegranate trees and spraying with Si in hot climate reduced AW, increased antioxidant traits, and led to higher fruit quality.
Topics: Antioxidants; Fruit; Pomegranate; Silicates; Sulfates; Minerals; Color; Anthocyanins
PubMed: 38937529
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-65084-3 -
Scientific Reports Jun 2024This study investigates the ecological interaction between honeybees (Apis mellifera) and fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) plants, examining the mutual benefits of this...
This study investigates the ecological interaction between honeybees (Apis mellifera) and fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) plants, examining the mutual benefits of this relationship. Field experiments conducted in Egypt from December 2022 to May 2023 recorded diverse insect pollinators attracted to fennel flowers, especially honeybees. Assessing honeybee colonies near fennel fields showed improvements in sealed brood (357.5-772.5 cells), unsealed brood (176.3-343.8 cells), pollen collection (53.25-257.5 units), honey accumulation (257.5-877.5 units), and colony strength (7.75-10) over three weeks. Fennel exposure explained 88-99% of variability in foraging metrics. Comparing open versus self-pollinated fennel revealed enhanced attributes with bee pollination, including higher flower age (25.67 vs 19.67 days), more seeds per umbel (121.3 vs 95.33), bigger seeds (6.533 vs 4.400 mm), heavier seeds (0.510 vs 0.237 g/100 seeds), and increased fruit weight per umbel (0.619 vs 0.226 g). Natural variation in seed color and shape also occurred. The outcomes demonstrate the integral role of honeybees in fennel agroecosystems through efficient pollination services that improve crop productivity and quality. Fennel provides abundant nutritional resources that bolster honeybee colony health. This research elucidates the symbiotic bee-fennel relationship, underscoring mutualistic benefits and the importance of ecological conservation for sustainable agriculture.
Topics: Bees; Animals; Foeniculum; Pollination; Flowers; Crop Production; Crops, Agricultural; Egypt; Pollen
PubMed: 38937513
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-64283-2 -
NPJ Science of Food Jun 2024Diabetes mellitus affected more than 500 million of people globally, with an annual mortality of 1.5 million directly attributable to diabetic complications. Oxidative...
Diabetes mellitus affected more than 500 million of people globally, with an annual mortality of 1.5 million directly attributable to diabetic complications. Oxidative stress, in particularly in post-prandial state, plays a vital role in the pathogenesis of the diabetic complications. However, oxidative status marker is generally poorly characterized and their mechanisms of action are not well understood. In this work, we proposed a new framework for deep characterization of oxidative stress in erythrocytes (and in urine) using home-built micro-scale NMR system. The dynamic of post-prandial oxidative status (against a wide variety of nutritional load) in individual was assessed based on the proposed oxidative status of the red blood cells, with respect to the traditional risk-factors such as urinary isoprostane, reveals new insights into our understanding of diabetes. This new method can be potentially important in drafting guidelines for sub-stratification of diabetes mellitus for clinical care and management.
PubMed: 38937488
DOI: 10.1038/s41538-024-00282-x -
Nature Communications Jun 2024Hydrogen bond symmetrisation is the phenomenon where a hydrogen atom is located at the centre of a hydrogen bond. Theoretical studies predict that hydrogen bonds in ice...
Hydrogen bond symmetrisation is the phenomenon where a hydrogen atom is located at the centre of a hydrogen bond. Theoretical studies predict that hydrogen bonds in ice VII eventually undergo symmetrisation upon increasing pressure, involving nuclear quantum effect with significant isotope effect and drastic changes in the elastic properties through several intermediate states with varying hydrogen distribution. Despite numerous experimental studies conducted, the location of hydrogen and hence the transition pressures reported up to date remain inconsistent. Here we report the atomic distribution of deuterium in DO ice using neutron diffraction above 100 GPa and observe the transition from a bimodal to a unimodal distribution of deuterium at around 80 GPa. At the transition pressure, a significant narrowing of the peak widths of 110 is also observed, attributed to the structural relaxation by the change of elastic properties.
PubMed: 38937434
DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-48932-8 -
American Journal of Veterinary Research Jun 2024To describe the use of a novel wound dressing that delivers nitric oxide (NO) to naturally occurring traumatic wounds in dogs.
OBJECTIVE
To describe the use of a novel wound dressing that delivers nitric oxide (NO) to naturally occurring traumatic wounds in dogs.
ANIMALS
24 client-owned dogs with 30 wounds.
METHODS
Dogs were presented with acute traumatic wounds requiring open wound management. Wounds were bandaged with a novel NO wound dressing and reassessed as needed for continued open wound management until wounds healed by second intention or wound closure was recommended. Dogs could be removed from the study at any point at the clinician's discretion.
RESULTS
All wounds had the novel NO wound dressing used during open wound management until wound closure was recommended. Median time to wound closure was 6 days (range, 2 to 42). There were no complications directly attributed to the use of the novel wound dressing that clinically affected the dogs. Three wounds dehisced following wound closure. Wound healing was confirmed in 19 dogs with 25 wounds, with 3 dogs lost to follow-up prior to suture removal. Only 7.1% of wounds had clinical signs consistent with wound infection following wound closure.
CLINICAL RELEVANCE
The novel NO wound dressing was easy to use and well tolerated in dogs with naturally occurring traumatic wounds. It can be used throughout all phases of wound healing, simplifying open wound management.
PubMed: 38936408
DOI: 10.2460/ajvr.24.04.0124 -
Ultrasonics Sonochemistry Jun 2024In this study, corn starch was used as the raw material, and modified starch was prepared using a method combining plasma-activated water and ultrasound treatment (PUL)....
In this study, corn starch was used as the raw material, and modified starch was prepared using a method combining plasma-activated water and ultrasound treatment (PUL). This method was compared with treatments using plasma-activated water (PAW) and ultrasound (UL) alone. The structure, thermal, physicochemical, pasting, and functional properties of the native and treated starches were evaluated. The results indicated that PAW and UL treatments did not alter the shape of the starch granules but caused some surface damage. The PUL treatment increased the starch gelatinization temperature and enthalpy (from 11.22 J/g to 13.13 J/g), as well as its relative crystallinity (increased by 0.51 %), gel hardness (increased by 16.19 %) compared to untreated starch, without inducing a crystalline transition. The PUL treatment resulted in a whitening of the samples. The dual treatment enhanced the thermal stability of the starch paste, which can be attributed to the synergistic effect between PAW and ultrasound (PAW can modify the starch structure at a molecular level, while ultrasound can further disrupt the granule weak crystalline structures, leading to improved thermal properties). Furthermore, FTIR results suggested significant changes in the functional groups related to the water-binding capacity of starch, and the order of the double-helical structure was disrupted. The findings of this study suggest that PUL treatment is a promising new green modification technique for improving the starch structure and enhancing starch properties. However, further research is needed to tailor the approach based on the specific properties of the raw material.
PubMed: 38936293
DOI: 10.1016/j.ultsonch.2024.106963 -
Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience Jun 2024Adolescent risk-taking has been attributed to earlier-developing motivational neurocircuitry that is poorly controlled by immature executive-control neurocircuitry....
Adolescent risk-taking has been attributed to earlier-developing motivational neurocircuitry that is poorly controlled by immature executive-control neurocircuitry. Functional magnetic resonance imaging findings of increased ventral striatum (VS) recruitment by reward prospects in adolescents compared to adults support this theory. Other studies found blunted VS recruitment by reward-predictive cues in adolescents compared to adults. Task features may explain this discrepancy but have never been systematically explored. Adolescents and adults performed a novel reward task that holds constant the expected value of all rewards but varies whether rewards are dependent on vigilance-intensive responding versus making a lucky choice during a relaxed response window. We examined group by sub-task contrast differences in activation of VS and more motoric regions of striatum in response to anticipatory cues. Reward anticipation in both task conditions activated portions of striatum in both groups. In voxel-wise comparison, adults showed greater anticipatory recruitment of VS in trials involving choice during a relaxed time window, not in the more vigilance-demanding trials as hypothesized. In accord with our hypotheses, however, adults showed greater activation in dorsal striatum and putamen volumes of interest during reward anticipation under vigilance-demanding conditions. Following trial outcome notifications, adolescents showed greater activation of the VS during reward notification but lower activation during loss notification. These data extend findings of cross-sectional age-group differences in incentive-anticipatory recruitment of striatum, by demonstrating in adults relatively greater recruitment of motor effector regions of striatum by attentional and motor demands.
PubMed: 38936253
DOI: 10.1016/j.dcn.2024.101412