PLoS ONE最新文献

Aims: The aim of the study was to investigate the association between breastfeeding duration and body mass index (BMI), overweight and obesity in children during follow-up until 16 years of age.

Methods: Observational cohort study of mothers and their children born 1999-2000 in a municipality in southwestern Sweden. Data were retrieved from antenatal clinics, primary care child health care centres and school health care. The study exposure was breastfeeding duration measured in months and categorised by duration < 6 months and ≥ 6 months. The study outcomes were development of BMI, and overweight and obesity according to ISO-BMI.

Results: The study population comprised 312 mothers and their 319 children of whom 120 were breastfed < 6 months and 199 ≥ 6 months. The overall partial or exclusive median breastfeeding duration was 6.5 months. No associations were found between breastfeeding duration in months and BMI in unadjusted (p = 0.70) and adjusted (p = 0.92) linear mixed-effects models with repeated BMI recordings at approximately 4, 7, 10, 13 and 16 years. Further, no associations were found in subgroup analyses for girls and boys. The adjusted analyses were adjusted for maternal age, smoking, BMI and parity, and for the child's sex, gestational age at birth and birth weight. Unadjusted logistic mixed-effects models with repeated ISO-BMI classifications at approximately 4, 7, 10, 13 and 16 years showed no associations between breastfeeding duration (≥6 months versus < 6 months) and overweight or obesity as compared to underweight or normal weight, in total (odds ratio 1.46, 95% confidence interval 0.69-3.08) or in boys and girls separately.

Conclusions: We found no association between breastfeeding duration and childhood and adolescence BMI up to 16 years of age or the development of overweight or obesity.

This study investigates whether ocular motor cranial neuropathy (OMCN) can predict the onset of thyroid cancer given its association with common cardiovascular risk factors including obesity, diabetes mellitus (DM), hypertension, and dyslipidemia. We conducted a retrospective, nationwide, population-based cohort study utilizing data from the Korean National Health Insurance Service. Individuals comprised those aged ≥ 20 years diagnosed with OMCN between 2010 and 2017. Exclusions were based on pre-existing conditions, inability to match controls, or incomplete data. The study involved 118,686 participants, with 19,781 in the OMCN group and 98,905 controls, matched for age and sex. Patients with OMCN showed a significantly higher risk of developing thyroid cancer (hazard ratio [HR] =  1.392 [95% confidence interval, 1.075-1.802]) compared to controls after adjusting for potential confounding factors. This association was more pronounced in participants with DM and women (HR =  2.288 in DM vs. HR =  1.209 in non-DM, p =  0.0450; HR =  1.677 in females vs. HR =  0.824 in males, p =  0.0246). The findings suggest OMCN as a potential early predictor of thyroid cancer risk, particularly in diabetic and female patients. Further research is needed to explore the underlying mechanisms linking cardiovascular risk factors to the relationship between OMCN and thyroid cancer. Proactive management of these risk factors in OMCN patients may contribute to thyroid cancer prevention.

Research has shown associations between parental and child mental health problems. However, there is a paucity of Swedish studies on this topic. Investigating this link in a Swedish context could inform preventive interventions aimed at reducing mental health problems in affected families. This longitudinal cohort study aimed to explore the association between parental mental health problems and children's subsequent mental disorders in Sweden. We used data on children, 3-5 years old, whose mothers (n = 6379) and fathers (n = 6218) had responded to the 12-item General Health Questionnaire for assessment of parental mental health problems using a cut-off of ≥12 points. The children were followed for approximately seven years with regard to subsequent mental disorders, collected from the Swedish National Patient Register. The associations between parental mental health problems and children's mental disorders were explored through Cox-regression models. In unadjusted Cox regression models, mothers (HR: 1.63, 95% CI: 1.37-1.94) and fathers (HR: 1.36, 95% CI: 1.12-1.65) with mental health problems were more likely to have children diagnosed with a subsequent mental disorder than mothers and fathers with no mental health problems. In adjusted models controlling for children's emotional and behavioral problems and parental sociodemographic factors, the associations remained significant for mothers' mental health problems (AHR: 1.33, 95% CI: 1.12-1.59), but not for fathers' (AHR: 1.14, 95% CI: 0.93-1.40). Children with emotional and behavioral problems, whose parents were single or living apart and whose parents had lower educational levels also had an elevated risk of being diagnosed with a mental disorder. Maternal mental health problems and child emotional and behavioral problems during the preschool years may serve as risk factors for subsequent child mental disorders. Assessment of these problems at child health services in Sweden could facilitate delivery of interventions to promote parental and child mental health.

Depletion of soil organic matter was found to be the primary biophysical factor causing declining per capita food production in sub-Saharan Africa. The magnitude of this problem was exacerbated by moisture-stress and imbalanced fertilizer application that caused Striga weed infestation. To address such confounded issues, two-year field experiments were conducted to evaluate the effect of residual vermicompost and preceding groundnut on soil fertility, sorghum yield, and Striga density. The first-year treatments contained two sowing methods (single and intercropped sorghum), two seedbed types (open-furrow and tied-ridge), and four vermicompost rates (0, 1.5, 3.0, and 4.5 t/ha) combined factorially in a randomized block design. In the second-year experiment, only monocropped sorghum with seedbed types was sown exactly on the same plot as the previous year's treatment combinations without fertilizer. The results disclosed that residual vermicompost at 4.5 t/ha in intercropped sorghum/groundnut significantly reduced soil pH (0.76%), bulk density (8.61%), electrical conductivity (38.78%), and Striga density (85.71%). In contrast, compared to unamended soil, the aforementioned treatment combined with tied-ridging increased soil moisture, organic matter, and sorghum yield by 16.67, 2.34, and 58%, respectively. Moreover, this treatment combination markedly increased post-harvest soil organic carbon (7.69%), total N (0.247%), available P (38.46%), exchangeable-Fe (27%), and exchangeable-Zn (40%) in the second year over control. Treatments previously amended with 4.5 t/ha of vermicompost under the sorghum-groundnut intercrop system resulted in the highest total N (0.242%) and available P (9.822 mg/Kg). Thus, the vermicompost and groundnut successfully improve soil fertility and sorghum yield for two cropping seasons.

The effective delivery of drugs remains a major challenge in the development of new therapeutic molecules. Several strategies have been employed to address this issue, with cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs) standing out due to their ability to traverse cell membranes with minimal cytotoxicity and their relatively straightforward synthesis when conjugated with other molecules. However, while CPPs can successfully enter the cytoplasm, they often lack specificity for particular organelles, leaving target engagement to the drug itself. In this study, we present cAmbly, a novel CPP derived from the antitumoral protein Amblyomin-X. Our findings demonstrate that cAmbly efficiently internalizes into T98G cells within 30 min of incubation and preferentially colocalizes with mitochondria, exhibiting a clear affinity for mitochondrial proteins. These results suggest that cAmbly could serve as a promising delivery vehicle for mitochondria-targeted drugs, such as BCL-2 or OXPHOS modulators, which are commonly employed in cancer treatment. Furthermore, we identified the C-terminal of cAmbly as the optimal site for conjugating molecules intended for intracellular delivery.

Purpose: This study aimed to examine the differential expression profiles of plasma metabolites in rat models of post-traumatic osteoarthritis (PTOA) and elucidate the roles of metabolites and their pathways in the progression of PTOA using bioinformatics analysis.

Method: Plasma samples were collected from 24 SD female rats to model PTOA, and metabolomic assays were conducted. The samples were divided into three groups: the surgically induced mild PTOA group (Group A: 3 weeks postoperative using the modified Hulth model; age 2 months), the surgically induced severe PTOA group (Group B: 5 weeks postoperative using the modified Hulth model; age 2 months), and the normal control group (Group C: healthy rats aged 2 months). Metabolites were structurally identified by comparing the retention times, molecular masses, secondary fragmentation spectra, collision energies, and other metabolite data with a database (provided by Shanghai Applied Protein Technology Co., Ltd.). Target prediction and pathway analysis were subsequently performed using bioinformatics analysis.

Results: The experiment revealed that in the mild PTOA group, levels of Alpha-ketoglutarate, Isocitric acid, Dichloroacetate, and other metabolites increased significantly compared with the normal group, whereas Linolenic acid, Lactose, and others decreased significantly. These findings suggest that these metabolites can serve as biomarkers for the diagnosis of early PTOA. In the severe PTOA group, Diosgenin, Indoleacrylic acid, Alpha-ketoglutarate, Isocitric acid, and others were elevated and may also be used as biomarkers for PTOA diagnosis. Adrenosterone, (+)-chlorpheniramine, and Phenanthridine levels were higher in the severe PTOA group compared to the mild PTOA group, while Menadione, Adenosine 5'-monophosphate, and Arg-Gly-Asp levels were lower.

Conclusions: Taurocholate, indoleacrylic acid, alpha-ketoglutarate, and isocitric acid may serve as biomarkers for PTOA joint injury in rats. Menadione, adenosine 5'-monophosphate, and Arg-Gly-Asp exhibited differential expression between severe and mild PTOA groups in rats, potentially reflecting the injury's severity. Further investigation into these molecules in human tissues is warranted to ascertain their utility as biomarkers for PTOA in humans.

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development of the United Nations outlines 17 goals for countries of the world to address global challenges in their development. However, the progress of countries towards these goal has been slower than expected and, consequently, there is a need to investigate the reasons behind this fact. In this study, we have used a novel data-driven methodology to analyze time-series data for over 20 years (2000-2022) from 107 countries using unsupervised machine learning (ML) techniques. Our analysis reveals strong positive and negative correlations between certain SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals). Our findings show that progress toward the SDGs is heavily influenced by geographical, cultural and socioeconomic factors, with no country on track to achieve all the goals by 2030. This highlights the need for a region-specific, systemic approach to sustainable development that acknowledges the complex interdependencies between the goals and the variable capacities of countries to reach them. For this our machine learning based approach provides a robust framework for developing efficient and data-informed strategies to promote cooperative and targeted initiatives for sustainable progress.

Periprosthetic joint infections (PJI), along with the extensive medical and surgical interventions required for treatment, impose a substantial psychological burden on patients. Given the need for patients to adapt to long-term physical limitations and ongoing medical challenges, this qualitative study aims to explore the nature of psychological coping amongst patients with chronic cases of PJI. A total of 18 patients (8 men and 10 women, aged 55 to 92) who underwent a total knee or hip arthroplasty revision due to chronic PJI were recruited at a single academic institution between August 2022 and July 2023. Semi-structured interviews were conducted at two timepoints and analyzed using thematic analysis. We identified the nature of coping with PJI as patients' process-orientation towards healing. This encapsulates constant adaptation to challenges and losses in day-to-day life, managing expectations and proactively developing a sense of self-efficacy during treatment and healing. Patients expressed uncertainty and unpredictability to treatment trajectories and getting a feeling of being stuck, where health and well-being oscillates between progression and regression. These experiences contributed to unstable relationships with healthcare practitioners which were influenced by loss of trust and perceived treatment failures. A holistic view on patients, taking them seriously in their concerns and providing clear information were identified as crucial factors in shaping a positive patient-physician relationship. Acknowledging the fluctuating nature of chronic PJI treatment, physicians should adopt a process-oriented approach that promotes step-by-step healing while maintaining a positive patient-physician relationship. Recognizing the profound psychological impact, we propose the establishment of a new subdiscipline, namely 'Psycho-Endoprosthetics', to facilitate interdisciplinary collaborations for research and practice in septic surgery.

Objective: Concurrent use of alcohol and cigarettes is well-documented in the literature. However, it is unclear how e-cigarette regulations in a growing number of localities impact the use of tobacco and alcohol in the US. This study aims to evaluate the impacts of excise taxes, tobacco use restrictions in restaurants/bars, and availability of alcohol flavor in e-cigarettes on tobacco consumption, and their cross impacts on alcohol consumption.

Method: A total of 181 US adult smokers who were using e-cigarettes and consuming alcohol participated in online volumetric choice experiments and reported on the quantity they would purchase among cigarettes, closed-system e-cigarettes, beer, and one other alcohol product (wine/liquor) under varying policy scenarios.

Results: Estimated own-price elasticities of demand for beer, liquor/wine, and cigarettes were -0.10, -0.11, and -0.16, respectively (p <  0.001). Higher beer (cross-price elasticity =  0.13) and liquor/wine prices (cross-price elasticity =  0.05) increased e-cigarette consumption (p <  0.05). If e-cigarettes were allowed in bars/restaurants, their consumption increased by 2.4 units (p <  0.001), and if cigarettes were allowed in bars/restaurants, e-cigarette consumption increased by 1.9 units (p <  0.01), relative to the mean consumption level. Greater reported weekly spending on alcohol and/or tobacco was associated with higher consumption of all products (p <  0.001).

Conclusions: Higher taxes or prices may reduce the consumption of beer, liquor/wine, and cigarettes. E-cigarettes are economic substitutes for alcohol among smokers who are currently drinking and using e-cigarettes. Regulating tobacco indoor use will have an impact on e-cigarette consumption.