Perceived Ageism is Associated With Recurrent Falling Among Older Colombian Adults.

Literature on the association between ageism and falling among older adults is limited. Using data from the nationwide cross-sectional SABE (Salud, Bienestar y Envejecimiento) Colombia Survey in 2015 with 18,875 participants aged ≥60 years living in the communities, the study aims to evaluate the association between perceived ageism within the family, neighborhood, health services, and public services, and recurrent falling. Participants had a mean age of 69.2 ± 7.1; 56.1% were female. Recurrent falling prevalence was 15%, and experiencing any ageism was 10%. Multivariable logistic regression analyses showed higher odds of recurrent falling for any ageism (OR = 1.81, 95% CI 1.61-2.02, p < .0001). High depressive symptoms mediated 10.1% of the association between any ageism and recurrent falling, followed by low instrumental activities of daily living (9.7%) and multimorbidity (9.3%). Current findings open new areas of gerontological research by expanding the risk factors for falling among older adults to include ageism perceptions.

Scholar Metrics Scraper (SMS): automated retrieval of citation and author data.

Academic departments, research clusters and evaluators analyze author and citation data to measure research impact and to support strategic planning. We created Scholar Metrics Scraper (SMS) to automate the retrieval of bibliometric data for a group of researchers. The project contains Jupyter notebooks that take a list of researchers as an input and exports a CSV file of citation metrics from Google Scholar (GS) to visualize the group's impact and collaboration. A series of graph outputs are also available. SMS is an open solution for automating the retrieval and visualization of citation data.

The basal and major pilins in the Corynebacterium diphtheriae SpaA pilus adopt similar structures that competitively react with the pilin polymerase.

Many species of pathogenic gram-positive bacteria display covalently crosslinked protein polymers (called pili or fimbriae) that mediate microbial adhesion to host tissues. These structures are assembled by pilus-specific sortase enzymes that join the pilin components together via lysine-isopeptide bonds. The archetypal SpaA pilus from Corynebacterium diphtheriae is built by the Cd SrtA pilus-specific sortase, which crosslinks lysine residues within the SpaA and SpaB pilins to build the shaft and base of the pilus, respectively. Here, we show that Cd SrtA crosslinks SpaB to SpaA via a K139(SpaB)-T494(SpaA) lysine-isopeptide bond. Despite sharing only limited sequence homology, an NMR structure of SpaB reveals striking similarities with the N-terminal domain of SpaA (N SpaA) that is also crosslinked by Cd SrtA. In particular, both pilins contain similarly positioned reactive lysine residues and adjacent disordered AB loops that are predicted to be involved in the recently proposed "latch" mechanism of isopeptide bond formation. Competition experiments using an inactive SpaB variant and additional NMR studies suggest that SpaB terminates SpaA polymerization by outcompeting N SpaA for access to a shared thioester enzyme-substrate reaction intermediate.

Assessing the influence of preconception diet on female fertility: a systematic scoping review of observational studies.

BACKGROUND: Preconception diet is a proposed modifiable risk factor for infertility. However, there is no official guidance for women in the preconception period as to which dietary approaches may improve fertility. OBJECTIVE AND RATIONALE: A comprehensive synthesis of the relevant evidence is key to determine the potentially effective dietary patterns and components as well as evidence gaps, and to provide information for nutritional recommendations for couples planning a pregnancy. SEARCH METHODS: In this systematic scoping review, four electronic databases (Medline and EMBASE via Ovid processing, CAB Direct, and CINAHL via EBSCO) were searched for observational studies (prospective and retrospective cohort, cross-sectional, and case-control studies) from inception to 27 September 2021. Eligible studies included women of reproductive age during the preconception period, and evaluated exposures related to preconception diet and outcomes related to fertility. Results were synthesized using a descriptive approach. OUTCOMES: A total of 36 studies were eligible for inclusion (31 prospective, 3 cross-sectional, and 2 case-control studies) and were published between 2007 and 2022. Of the assessed dietary exposures, increased adherence to the Mediterranean diet displayed the strongest and most consistent association with improved clinical pregnancy rates. Reducing trans fatty acids (TFAs), saturated fatty acids, and discretionary food intake (fast food and sugar-sweetened beverages) were associated with improvements in live birth, clinical pregnancy rates, and related ART outcomes. The dietary components of seafood, dairy, and soy demonstrated inconsistent findings across the few included studies. WIDER IMPLICATIONS: Due to heterogeneity and the limited available literature on most exposures, there is insufficient evidence to support any specific dietary approach for improving fertility. However, following some of the dietary approaches outlined in this review (anti-inflammatory diets, reducing TFA, and discretionary food intake) are consistent with broad healthy eating guidelines, have little to no associated risk, and offer a plausible set of possible benefits. This warrants further exploration in randomized controlled trials.

The Basal and Major Pilins in the Corynebacterium diphtheriae SpaA Pilus Adopt Similar Structures that Competitively React with the Pilin Polymerase.

Many species of pathogenic gram-positive bacteria display covalently crosslinked protein polymers (called pili or fimbriae) that mediate microbial adhesion to host tissues. These structures are assembled by pilus-specific sortase enzymes that join the pilin components together via lysine-isopeptide bonds. The archetypal SpaA pilus from Corynebacterium diphtheriae is built by the Cd SrtA pilus-specific sortase, which crosslinks lysine residues within the SpaA and SpaB pilins to build the shaft and base of the pilus, respectively. Here, we show that Cd SrtA crosslinks SpaB to SpaA via a K139(SpaB)-T494(SpaA) lysine-isopeptide bond. Despite sharing only limited sequence homology, an NMR structure of SpaB reveals striking similarities with the N-terminal domain of SpaA ( N SpaA) that is also crosslinked by Cd SrtA. In particular, both pilins contain similarly positioned reactive lysine residues and adjacent disordered AB loops that are predicted to be involved in the recently proposed "latch" mechanism of isopeptide bond formation. Competition experiments using an inactive SpaB variant and additional NMR studies suggest that SpaB terminates SpaA polymerization by outcompeting N SpaA for access to a shared thioester enzyme-substrate reaction intermediate.

Efficacy and Safety of Megestrol in the Hospitalized Older Person.

Objectives To evaluate the efficacy and safety of megestrol for off-label use in older patients with weight loss. Design Retrospective, nonblinded cohort study. Setting Upstate University Hospital is a 420-bed facility and academic medical center with a level 1 trauma center. Upstate Community Hospital is a 314-bed acute care/hospital/ambulatory care center and long-term care hospital that also provides teaching services. Participants Patients 65 years of age and older without malignancy or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome who were initiated and continued megestrol therapy at the Upstate University hospitals for at least two weeks were included. Of the 1,290 patients initially screened, 16 patients on megestrol were evaluated. An age- and gender-matched control group of 16 patients was utilized for comparison of changes in weight and other variables. Interventions Patients in the megestrol group have received daily doses of megestrol between 160 mg to 800 mg for an average duration of 19 days. Patients in the control group had no history or current use of megestrol utilization. Main Outcome Measurements The primary outcome was an increase in weight. Secondary outcome measures included albumin and thromboembolic events. Changes in weight and albumin were also compared with the control group. Results At a mean duration of 19 days, there was no significant difference in weight gain (0.95 kg, OR = 1.33 [95% CI -1.615-3.527]). Albumin decreased by (0.4 g/dL OR = 0.916 [95% CI 0.12-0.78]) and none of the patients developed a thromboembolic event. Conclusion In older hospitalized patients, megestrol did not increase weight, and did not improve albumin. No thromboembolic events were observed, but this may be because of a limited duration of observation of therapy and the routine use of anticoagulation prophylaxis in the inpatient setting.

Deviant Versus Nondeviant Routines, Social Guardianship and Adolescent Victimization in the Rural Context of China.

There is limited knowledge on the possible pathways of victimization among rural dwellers during adolescence in developing contexts, such as rural China, where victimization may compound developmental disadvantages of rural adolescents. Guided by the lifestyle/routine activity theory, the goal of this study thus was to examine how far delinquent lifestyles (delinquent involvement and delinquent peer association); nondeviant routine activities (unstructured socializing with peers, structured activities, and solitary activities); and social guardianship within family, school, and neighborhood contribute to juvenile victimization in a rural setting. The outcomes of interest covered direct victimization (violent, property, and sexual) and indirect victimization (witnessing community violence). The study included 2,839 adolescents (51.2% male; mean age = 13.88 ± 0.90 years) from 30 middle schools in rural China. The delinquent peer influence as a risk factor of direct and indirect victimization appeared to be more profound than delinquent involvement. Solitary activities consistently put rural adolescents at greater risk of direct and indirect victimization, and their role was stronger than that of rural adolescents' delinquent involvement. No victimization outcomes were predicted by unstructured socializing with peers and structured activities. Attachment to family caregivers and neighborhood cohesion were the strongest social guardianship predictors across all forms of victimization. These results suggest that alongside social guardianship and delinquent lifestyles, rural isolation should be addressed in managing juvenile victimization. The insignificant role of unstructured socializing with peers may raise the need to clarify its conceptual relevance to rural settings. The implications for improving the underdeveloped preventive measures against victimization of rural adolescent populations in developing societies are described.

Do Gender Norms Matter? General Strain Theory and a Gendered Analysis of Gambling Disorder among Chinese Married Couples.

Despite the emergence of literature on gender differences in gambling problems, few empirical studies have explored how gender norms inform the gender dynamics involved in the development of gambling disorder. This study addresses this research gap by applying general strain theory to gambling disorder across genders. The objectives of this study are twofold. First, we examine the role of gender norms in the social strain-gambling disorder relationship across genders. Second, we explore the extent to which males and females who conform to traditional gender norms are likely to express strain-induced negative emotions that result in gambling disorder. These relationships are examined with data from a cross-sectional survey of 1,620 Chinese married couples in Hong Kong. Our results indicate that gender norms function differently between genders. Specifically, gender norms exacerbate the effect of social strain on gambling disorder in males but mitigate the effect of social strain on gambling disorder in females. In addition, gender norms amplify the effect of strain-induced negative emotions on gambling disorder in males only.

What is the right sequencing approach? Solo VS extended family analysis in consanguineous populations.

BACKGROUND: Testing strategies is crucial for genetics clinics and testing laboratories. In this study, we tried to compare the hit rate between solo and trio and trio plus testing and between trio and sibship testing. Finally, we studied the impact of extended family analysis, mainly in complex and unsolved cases. METHODS: Three cohorts were used for this analysis: one cohort to assess the hit rate between solo, trio and trio plus testing, another cohort to examine the impact of the testing strategy of sibship genome vs trio-based analysis, and a third cohort to test the impact of an extended family analysis of up to eight family members to lower the number of candidate variants. RESULTS: The hit rates in solo, trio and trio plus testing were 39, 40, and 41%, respectively. The total number of candidate variants in the sibship testing strategy was 117 variants compared to 59 variants in the trio-based analysis. We noticed that the average number of coding candidate variants in trio-based analysis was 1192 variants and 26,454 noncoding variants, and this number was lowered by 50-75% after adding additional family members, with up to two coding and 66 noncoding homozygous variants only, in families with eight family members. CONCLUSION: There was no difference in the hit rate between solo and extended family members. Trio-based analysis was a better approach than sibship testing, even in a consanguineous population. Finally, each additional family member helped to narrow down the number of variants by 50-75%. Our findings could help clinicians, researchers and testing laboratories select the most cost-effective and appropriate sequencing approach for their patients. Furthermore, using extended family analysis is a very useful tool for complex cases with novel genes.

Ceftolozane-tazobactam and ceftazidime-avibactam activity against ß-lactam-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa and extended-spectrum ß-lactamase-producing Enterobacterales clinical isolates from U.S. medical centres.

BACKGROUND: Despite availability of ceftolozane-tazobactam (C/T) and ceftazidime-avibactam (CZA) for several years, the individual spectrum of activity of each agent may not be widely known. We compared the activity of C/T and CZA against convenience samples of 119 extended-spectrum ß-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Enterobacterales and 60 ß-lactam-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa clinical isolates collected from three U.S. institutions. METHODS: Minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) for C/T and CZA were determined by broth microdilution. Molecular identification of nine ß-lactamase gene targets was conducted for Enterobacterales and P. aeruginosa isolates with increased MICs to C/T or CZA. RESULTS: More than 90% of Enterobacterales isolates demonstrated susceptibility to both C/T and CZA, in contrast to the other traditional ß-lactam agents tested, which were much less active. The MIC50/90 values were nearly equivalent between agents. The most common ß-lactamase genes identified in Enterobacterales isolates with MIC values ≥2 mg/L were the CTX-M-1 group (85%) and CMY-2-like (23%) ß-lactamases. Both agents were active against >80% of ß-lactam-resistant P. aeruginosa isolates tested, most of which had oprD mutations identified. One P. aeruginosa isolate was positive for a Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase-type gene but remained meropenem-susceptible. The MIC50 values were four-fold lower in favour of C/T (1 mg/L vs. 4 mg/L) against P. aeruginosa. CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that either agent may be a reasonable choice for centres with a high proportion of ESBL producers; however, C/T may have improved activity against P. aeruginosa and may be preferred in institutions with a higher frequency of resistant pseudomonal isolates.

Adolescent Drug Abuse in Hong Kong: Prevalence, Psychosocial Correlates, and Prevention.

PURPOSE: Hong Kong has devised strategies to tackle the problem of psychoactive drug abuse in adolescents since the mid-1990s. This paper sought to find out whether previous research and prevention work has made use of concepts and ideas that are akin to the Positive Youth Development (PYD) approach. The prospect of adopting PYD in Hong Kong's drug prevention system was explored. METHODS: Data from an official database and from school surveys were presented to show the increasing prevalence of psychoactive drug abuse in the past two decades. Major research findings pertaining to psychosocial factors in adolescent drug abuse were reviewed, aiming to capture the compatibility of these research findings with the PYD framework. Lastly, the possibility of integrating PYD into existing prevention programs was discussed. CONCLUSIONS: Previous research on psychosocial factors has covered a variety of PYD elements, and one particular effort had been made to specifically apply PYD constructs in a longitudinal study of PYD and adolescent problem behavior. It was suggested that PYD researchers should join hands with service professionals to consolidate and finetune the PYD approach for school-based prevention programs for students, and for tertiary prevention programs for clients in treatment modalities.

Natural fertility, infertility and the role of medically assisted reproduction: The knowledge amongst women of reproductive age in North Queensland.

BACKGROUND: The demand for medically assisted reproduction continues to increase, with more women encountering challenges with fertility. Due to misconceptions and gaps in knowledge, women are often unaware of the risks related to delayed childbearing. Lack of understanding of natural fertility, infertility and the role of medically assisted reproduction can lead to emotional suffering and changes in family plans. AIMS: To assess the understanding and knowledge that women of reproductive age in North Queensland have regarding natural fertility, infertility and the role of medically assisted reproduction. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data were collected from 120 women (30 nurses, 30 teachers, 30 university students and 30 Technical and Further Education students) via the distribution of a structured questionnaire. Participants were surveyed in person about their personal plans and opinions, knowledge about natural fertility, infertility and medically assisted reproduction, and their preferred source of information. RESULTS: Participants demonstrated suboptimal knowledge levels throughout all sections of the questionnaire, in particular when asked about medically assisted reproduction. When asked to identify their main source of information, 'friends and family' was the most popular choice. CONCLUSIONS: Results from this North Queensland study add to the existing international literature, highlighting the widespread nature of the problem. Without adequate understanding of natural fertility, the risks of infertility, and the role and limitations of medically assisted reproduction, women make uninformed decisions. Development of local reproductive health education programs need to be instigated in response.

Social strain, couple dynamics and gender differences in gambling problems: evidence from Chinese married couples.

Knowledge of the influence of couple dynamics on gender differences in gambling behavior remains meager. Building on general strain theory from the sociology of deviance and stress crossover theory from social psychology, we argue that the strain encountered by one partner in a social setting may affect his or her spouse. For instance, the wife of a man under more social strain may experience more strain in turn and thus be at a higher risk of developing disordered gambling than the wife of a man under less social strain. Using community survey data of 1620 Chinese married couples, we performed multilevel dyad analyses to address social strain and couple dynamics, in addition to their roles as predictors of gambling behavior in both spouses. This was a community survey of Hong Kong and therefore was not representative of China. Based on the DSM-IV screen, the rates of probable problem gambling and pathological gambling among male partners (12.8% vs. 2.5%) were twice those among female partners (5.2% vs. 0.3%). We also found that the social strain experienced by a male partner significantly predicted both his and his wife's likelihood of developing gambling problems. Although a female partner's exposure to social strain was a significant correlate of her gambling problem, it had no significant association with her husband's gambling behavior. These results suggest that the cross-spouse transference of social strain may be a gendered process.

Social stress, locality of social ties and mental well-being: the case of rural migrant adolescents in urban China.

By comparing rural migrant and urban native adolescents in Guangzhou, the largest city in south China, this study investigated the relationships between social stress, social ties that link migrants to their host cities (local ties) and to their rural home communities (trans-local ties), and the migrants׳ mental well-being. Non-migration social stress was more strongly related to poor psychological health than to weak self-efficacy in both migrant and urban native adolescents. This pattern also applied to the effect of migration-specific assimilation stress on psychological health and self-efficacy in migrants. Social ties directly enhanced these two well-being outcomes in both samples, with the effects of trans-local and local ties proving equally potent among migrants. Trans-local ties were somewhat more useful for migrants in moderating the effects of non-migration social stress and assimilation stress, whereas the stress moderation function of social ties was less pronounced in urban natives. These findings extend the migration, network and social stress literature by identifying how local and trans-local ties protect mental health and mitigate stress in migrants.

Low self-control and co-occurrence of gambling with substance use and delinquency among Chinese adolescents.

Relatively little is known about gambling co-morbidity in Asian youth populations. The role of trait self-control in co-morbidity also remains under-explored in the gambling literature. This study examined the association between gambling, substance use and delinquency among Chinese adolescents, and the extent to which these forms of risk behavior are commonly predicted by low self-control. Data from a cross-sectional questionnaire survey of a stratified, random sample of 4,734 high school students aged 12-23 years in Hong Kong were analyzed. The prevalence of gambling pathology, frequency and attitudes showed statistically significant, positive and consistent relationships with tobacco use, alcohol use, and delinquent acts at the p < .001 level. Further analyses revealed that low self-control significantly (p < .001) predicts at-risk/probable pathological gambling, frequent gambling, strong permissiveness toward gambling, heavy use of tobacco and alcohol, and delinquent involvement, even after controlling for the potential shared correlates of socioeconomic characteristics, parental monitoring and peer delinquency. Hence, the concept that gambling problems and strong receptivity to gambling are likely to be part of a general problem behavior syndrome is evinced cross-culturally among young people in a Chinese context. It may also be cost-effective to increase intervention efforts to improve the self-control deficit in adolescents, as this should reduce their gambling and concurrent problem behavior.

Rural-to-urban migrant adolescents in Guangzhou, China: psychological health, victimization, and local and trans-local ties.

Despite the emerging literature on the health of rural-to-urban migrant children in China, few studies have addressed victimization stressors and stress-buffering mechanisms related to the social relationships that link migrants to their host cities (local ties) and home communities (trans-local ties). This study compared rural-to-urban migrant adolescents and urban native adolescents to examine the relationships between victimization, local and trans-local ties, and mental well-being that might be unique to migrants. Participants were 482 migrant students and 838 urban native students in the eighth grade in Guangzhou who completed a school-based survey in spring 2011. Victimization was associated with suboptimal psychological health in both the migrant and urban native samples. Social ties directly boosted psychological health in both samples, with the effects of trans-local and local ties proving equally important among migrant adolescents. While both local and trans-local ties moderated the effect of victimization on migrant adolescents, that moderation mattered less for urban native youth. These results highlight that a better understanding of victimization stress and how it is affected by the locality of social ties as a coping resource could help to protect the health of young migrants in urban China.

Comparative proteomic analysis of mouse livers from embryo to adult reveals an association with progression of hepatocellular carcinoma.

To identify potential oncofetal biomarkers that distinguish hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) from healthy liver tissues, we compared and analyzed the proteomic profiles of mouse livers at different developmental stages. Fetal (E13.5, E16.5), newborn (NB), postnatal (3-week) and adult (3-month) livers were isolated and profiled by 2-D PAGE. Statistical analysis using linear regression and false discovery rate (FDR) revealed that 361 protein spots showed significant changes. Unsupervised hierarchical tree analysis segregated the proteins into fetal, NB, and postnatal-adult clusters. Distinctive protein markers were identified by MALDI-TOF/MS and the corresponding mRNA profiles were further determined by Q-PCR. Fetal markers (hPCNA, hHSP7C, hHEM6) and postnatal-adult markers (hARGI1, hASSY, hBHMT, hFABPL) were selected for testing against a panel of seven human hepatocyte/HCC cell lines and 59 clinical specimens. The fetal proteins were found to be overexpressed in the metastatic HCC cell lines and the tumor tissues, whereas the postnatal-adult proteins were expressed in non-tumor tissues and normal hepatocytes. This "Ying-Yang" pattern, as orchestrated by distinct fetal and adult markers, is hypothesized to indicate the progressive change of the liver from a growing, less-differentiated organ into a functional metabolic center. Thus, embryogenesis and tumorigenesis share certain oncofetal markers and adult "hepatic" phenotypes are lost in HCC.

Is Hong Kong experiencing normalization of adolescent drug use? Some reflections on the normalization thesis.

The upsurge of consumption of party drugs among adolescents in recent years in Hong Kong has been part of the global trend of adolescent recreational use of drugs at rave parties, discos and similar party settings. Scholars in Western societies have recently proposed the thesis of "normalization of adolescent drug use" to describe such a trend. The normalization thesis points at three major aspects of the normalization phenomenon, namely, a rapid increase of the prevalence of drug use in young people, the widespread popularity of recreational drug use that is closely linked with the recent arrival of dance club culture, and a receptive attitude towards drug use as a normal part of leisure. This article aims to examine whether the normalization thesis can be applied to analyze the situation of adolescent drug use in Hong Kong. Data are drawn from official statistics and a recent survey conducted in 2002-2004 of drug use of Hong Kong marginal youths (N = 504). The case of Hong Kong only partially supports the thesis. Our findings show that the normalization of drug use among young people has occurred in Hong Kong, but the extent of normalization is smaller than those in Western societies like the United Kingdom. They also suggest that a recognition of possible cultural differences may be complementary to the normalization thesis. Limitations of the study are also noted.