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Appetite Jun 2024This study investigates implicit and explicit attitudes toward products before and beyond the best-before date (BBD) using an Implicit Association Test and an online...
This study investigates implicit and explicit attitudes toward products before and beyond the best-before date (BBD) using an Implicit Association Test and an online questionnaire. Moreover, we test whether consumer perception of and behavior toward products beyond the BBD can be manipulated using a priming task. We use a three-group between-subjects design where respondents had to recall either a frugal, a wasteful, or an unrelated behavior. Results show that consumers have negative implicit associations with products beyond the BBD. Reduced health and safety perceptions, consumers' strategies to determine edibility, and general risk perception of products beyond the BBD predict consumption of these products. While recalling a frugal behavior does not have significant effects, recalling a wasteful behavior prior to evaluating products beyond the BBD leads to a decrease in the perceived safety and healthfulness of these products.
PubMed: 38876149
DOI: 10.1016/j.appet.2024.107556 -
Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience 2024The lack of cognitive awareness, anosognosia, is a clinical deficit in Alzheimer's disease (AD) dementia. However, an increased awareness of cognitive function,...
INTRODUCTION
The lack of cognitive awareness, anosognosia, is a clinical deficit in Alzheimer's disease (AD) dementia. However, an increased awareness of cognitive function, hypernosognosia, may serve as a marker in the preclinical stage. Subjective cognitive decline (SCD) might correspond to the initial symptom in the dynamic trajectory of awareness, but SCD might be absent along with low awareness of actual cognitive performance in the preclinical stage. We hypothesized that distinct meta-cognitive profiles, both hypernosognosia and anosognosia, might be identified in preclinical-AD. This research evaluated the association between cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) AD biomarkers and the awareness of episodic memory, further exploring dyadic (participant-partner) SCD reports, in the preclinical Alzheimer's continuum.
METHODS
We analyzed 314 cognitively unimpaired (CU) middle-aged individuals (mean age: 60, SD: 4) from the ALFA+ cohort study. Episodic memory was evaluated with the delayed recall from the Memory Binding Test (MBT). Awareness of episodic memory, meta-memory, was defined as the normalized discrepancy between objective and subjective performance. SCD was defined using self-report, and dyadic SCD profiles incorporated the study partner's report using parallel SCD-Questionnaires. The relationship between CSF Aβ42/40 and CSF p-tau181 with meta-memory was evaluated with multivariable regression models. The role of SCD and the dyadic contingency was explored with the corresponding stratified analysis.
RESULTS
CSF Aβ42/40 was non-linearly associated with meta-memory, showing an increased awareness up to Aβ-positivity and a decreased awareness beyond this threshold. In the non-SCD subset, the non-linear association between CSF Aβ42/40 and meta-memory persisted. In the SCD subset, higher Aβ-pathology was linearly associated with increased awareness. Individuals presenting only study partner's SCD, defined as unaware decliners, exhibited higher levels of CSF p-tau181 correlated with lower meta-memory performance.
DISCUSSION
These results suggested that distinct meta-cognitive profiles can be identified in preclinical-AD. While most individuals might experience an increased awareness associated with the entrance in the AD continuum, hypernosognosia, some might be already losing insight and stepping into the anosognosic trajectory. This research reinforced that an early anosognosic profile, although at increased risk of AD-related decline, might be currently overlooked considering actual diagnostic criteria, and therefore its medical attention delayed.
PubMed: 38872632
DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2024.1394460 -
Critical Reviews in Toxicology Jun 2024Over the past several decades, there have been many epidemiology studies on talc and cancer published in the scientific literature, and several reviews and meta-analyses... (Review)
Review
Over the past several decades, there have been many epidemiology studies on talc and cancer published in the scientific literature, and several reviews and meta-analyses of talc and respiratory, female reproductive, and stomach cancers, specifically. To help provide a resource for the evaluation of talc as a potential human carcinogen, we applied a consistent set of examination methods and criteria for all epidemiology studies that examined the association between talc exposure (by various routes) and cancers (of various types). We identified 30 cohort, 35 case-control, and 12 pooled studies that evaluated occupational, medicinal, and personal-care product talc exposure and cancers of the respiratory system, the female reproductive tract, the gastrointestinal tract, the urinary system, the lymphohematopoietic system, the prostate, male genital organs, and the central nervous system, as well as skin, eye, bone, connective tissue, peritoneal, and breast cancers. We tabulated study characteristics, quality, and results in a systematic manner, and evaluated all cancer types for which studies of at least three unique populations were available in a narrative review. We focused on study quality aspects most likely to impact the interpretation of results. We found that only one study, of medicinal talc use, evaluated direct exposure measurements for any individuals, though some used semi-quantitative exposure metrics, and few studies adequately assessed potential confounders. The only consistent associations were with ovarian cancer in case-control studies and these associations were likely impacted by recall and potentially other biases. This systematic review indicates that epidemiology studies do not support a causal association between occupational, medicinal, or personal talc exposure and any cancer in humans.
PubMed: 38868996
DOI: 10.1080/10408444.2024.2351081 -
Heliyon Jun 2024The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of temporal instability and possible heterogeneity on pedestrian accident severity, 48786 accident data from 2018 to...
The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of temporal instability and possible heterogeneity on pedestrian accident severity, 48786 accident data from 2018 to 2021 in the UK STATS database were used as the study object, and accident severity was used as the dependent variable, and 49 accident characteristics were selected as independent variables from 6 characteristics of accident pedestrian, driver, vehicle, road, environment and time to construct the pedestrian accident mean heterogeneity random-parameter logit model and examined its temporal stability. The results of model estimation and likelihood ratio tests indicate that the variables affecting pedestrian injury severity are highly variable and not stable over the years. And further demonstrates the potential of models that address unobserved heterogeneity for significant relationships in pedestrian accident severity analyses.
PubMed: 38867994
DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e32013 -
The Lancet. Oncology Jun 2024
Topics: United States Food and Drug Administration; United States; China; Humans; Safety-Based Drug Withdrawals; Drug Approval
PubMed: 38821082
DOI: 10.1016/S1470-2045(24)00025-1 -
Risk Analysis : An Official Publication... May 2024In today's highly competitive business environment, firms strive to maximize profitability by minimizing or eliminating disruptions and failures to maintain a...
In today's highly competitive business environment, firms strive to maximize profitability by minimizing or eliminating disruptions and failures to maintain a competitive edge. This study focuses on evaluating risks in a hydraulic pump factory as a means to achieve sustainable growth. To accomplish this, a team of experts was formed to identify potential errors, utilizing a combination of risk priority number criteria weighted by Fuzzy Shannon's entropy and a fusion of multi-criteria decision-making and failure mode and effects analysis for evaluating and ranking failures. Moreover, the study emphasizes the importance of considering the interaction among risk assessment indicators, the inclusion of cost of failure, and modeling under fuzzy uncertainty circumstances, as they have a notable impact on the final ranking of failures to be processed for risk mitigation action planning. This research brings a new dimension to enhance the overall effectiveness of risk assessment by aggregation, as evidenced by a novel use of data classification in machine learning and correlation in statistics. The findings indicate that the aggregated ranking data series is best matched and most influenced by the weighted aggregated sum product assessment method, with the highest rate of recall and precision accomplished.
PubMed: 38818965
DOI: 10.1111/risa.14338 -
Frontiers in Medicine 2024Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) remains a global health challenge, and novel approaches to improve HIV control are significantly important. The cell and gene therapy...
Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) remains a global health challenge, and novel approaches to improve HIV control are significantly important. The cell and gene therapy product AGT103-T was previously evaluated (NCT04561258) for safety, immunogenicity, and persistence in seven patients for up to 180 days post infusion. In this study, we sought to investigate the impact of AGT103-T treatment upon analytical treatment interruptions (ATIs). Six patients previously infused with AGT103-T were enrolled into an ATI study (NCT05540964), wherein they suspended their antiretroviral therapy (ART) until their viral load reached 100,000 copies/mL in two successive visits, or their CD4 count was reduced to below 300 cells/μL. During the ATI, all patients experienced viral rebound followed by a notable expansion in HIV specific immune responses. The participants demonstrated up to a five-fold increase in total CD8 counts over baseline approximately 1-2 weeks followed by the peak viremia. This coincided with a rise in HIV-specific CD8 T cells, which was attributed to the increase in antigen availability and memory recall. Thus, the protocol was amended to include a second ATI with the first ATI serving as an "auto-vaccination." Four patients participated in a second ATI. During the second ATI, the Gag-specific CD8 T cells were either maintained or rose in response to viral rebound and the peak viremia was substantially decreased. The patients reached a viral set point ranging from 7,000 copies/mL to 25,000 copies/mL. Upon resuming ART, all participants achieved viral control more rapidly than during the first ATI, with CD4 counts remaining within 10% of baseline measurements and without any serious adverse events or evidence of drug resistance. In summary, the rise in CD8 counts and the viral suppression observed in 100% of the study participants are novel observations demonstrating that AGT103-T gene therapy when combined with multiple ATIs, is a safe and effective approach for achieving viral control, with viral setpoints consistently below 25,000 copies/mL and relatively stable CD4 T cell counts. We conclude that HIV cure-oriented cell and gene therapy trials should include ATI and may benefit from designs that include multiple ATIs when induction of CD8 T cells is required to establish viral control.
PubMed: 38808136
DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2024.1342476 -
BMJ Open May 2024Radiologist shortages threaten the sustainability of breast cancer screening programmes. Artificial intelligence (AI) products that can interpret mammograms could...
Protocol for evaluating the fitness for purpose of an artificial intelligence product for radiology reporting in the BreastScreen New South Wales breast cancer screening programme.
INTRODUCTION
Radiologist shortages threaten the sustainability of breast cancer screening programmes. Artificial intelligence (AI) products that can interpret mammograms could mitigate this risk. While previous studies have suggested this technology has accuracy comparable to radiologists most have been limited by using 'enriched' datasets and/or not considering the interaction between the algorithm and human readers. This study will address these limitations by comparing the accuracy of a workflow using AI alongside radiologists on a large consecutive cohort of examinations from a breast cancer screening programme. The study will combine the strengths of a large retrospective design with the benefit of prospective data collection. It will test this technology without risk to screening programme participants nor the need to wait for follow-up data. With a sample of 2 years of consecutive screening examinations, it is likely the largest test of this technology to date. The study will help determine whether this technology can safely be introduced into the BreastScreen New South Wales (NSW) population-based screening programme to address radiology workforce risks without compromising cancer detection rates or increasing false-positive recalls.
METHODS AND ANALYSIS
A retrospective, consecutive cohort of digital mammography screens from 658 207 examinations from BreastScreen NSW will be reinterpreted by the Lunit Insight MMG AI product. The cohort includes 4383 screen-detected and 1171 interval cancers. The results will be compared with radiologist single reading and the AI results will also be used to replace the second reader in a double-reading model. New adjudication reading will be performed where the AI disagrees with the first reader. Recall rates and cancer detection rates of combined AI-radiologist reading will be compared with the rates obtained at the time of screening.
ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION
This study has ethical approval from the NSW Health Population Health Services Research Ethics Committee (2022/ETH02397). Findings will be published in peer-reviewed journals and presented at conferences. The findings of this evaluation will be provided to programme managers, governance bodies and other stakeholders in Australian breast cancer screening programmes.
Topics: Humans; Breast Neoplasms; Female; Mammography; Artificial Intelligence; New South Wales; Early Detection of Cancer; Retrospective Studies; Mass Screening; Middle Aged; Research Design
PubMed: 38806433
DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-082350 -
Foods (Basel, Switzerland) May 2024This paper presents the first assessment of dietary exposure to aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) and associated health risks through milk and dairy product consumption in Armenia....
This paper presents the first assessment of dietary exposure to aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) and associated health risks through milk and dairy product consumption in Armenia. Data on AFM1 in raw milk were obtained from an annual residue monitoring program. Additionally, commonly consumed dairy products (pasteurized milk, cheese, sour cream, curd cheese) were sampled, considering the sources of raw milk used by dairy companies. Per capita consumption of raw milk was sourced from national food balance databases, while individual consumption data for dairy products was collected via a 24 h recall survey with 1400 adult respondents. Detectable levels of AFM1 were observed in 7.14% of raw milk samples (up to 0.334 μg/kg) and, albeit at lower amounts (up to 0.009 µg/kg), in 30% and 40% of sour cream and curd cheese, respectively. The AFM1 levels were lower than the national maximum permitted level (0.5 μg/kg); however, levels in raw milk exceeded the EU ML (0.05 μg/kg). The estimated margin of exposure values for dairy products indicated no significant risk, whereas a reasonable worst-case estimate, using the measurable levels of AFM1 in raw milk consumption indicated a potential public health concern. This study provides a scientific basis for evaluating aflatoxin issues in the Caucasus area.
PubMed: 38790817
DOI: 10.3390/foods13101518 -
JAAD International Sep 2024Empirical decisions to select therapies for psoriasis (PSO) and atopic dermatitis (AD) can lead to delays in disease control and increased health care costs. However,...
BACKGROUND
Empirical decisions to select therapies for psoriasis (PSO) and atopic dermatitis (AD) can lead to delays in disease control and increased health care costs. However, routine molecular testing for AD and PSO are lacking.
OBJECTIVE
To examine (1) how clinicians choose systemic therapies for patients with PSO and AD without molecular testing and (2) to determine how often the current approach leads to patients switching medications.
METHODS
A 20-question survey designed to assess clinician strategies for systemic treatment of AD and PSO was made available to attendees of a national dermatology conference in 2022.
RESULTS
Clinicians participating in the survey (265/414, 64% response rate) ranked "reported efficacy" as the most important factor governing treatment choice ( < .001). However, 62% (165/265) of clinicians estimated that 2 or more systemic medications were typically required to achieve efficacy. Over 90% (239/265) of respondents would or would likely find a molecular test to guide therapeutic selection useful.
LIMITATIONS
To facilitate ease of recall, questions focused on systemic therapies as a whole and not individual therapies.
CONCLUSION
Clinicians want a molecular test to help determine the most efficacious drug for individual patients.
PubMed: 38774343
DOI: 10.1016/j.jdin.2024.03.019