PLoS ONE最新文献

Polysubstance use is a major public health concern affecting lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) adults, especially bisexual female adults. This study aims to identify the commonly used polysubstance combinations by LGB adults in the past 30 days and to determine whether these combinations differ by sexual identity and sex. Our analytic sample consisted of NSDUH 2021 and 2022 (n = 66,634 adults; 8.59% LGB adults). We used survey-weighted multinomial logistic regression models to assess the polysubstance combinations by sex. The most used substances were binge alcohol drinking, cannabis, cigarettes, and nicotine vape. Bisexual female adults used most of the assessed polysubstance combinations that included binge alcohol drinking, cannabis, or both, often involving three or four substances. Sex differences among the polysubstance combinations vary among heterosexual and bisexual adults but not among gay/lesbian adults. Public health strategies must consider the specific sexual identity, sex, and the types of substance combinations involved.

Introduction: Multiple sclerosis is a chronic demyelinating disease of the central nervous system. Transplantation of oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs) is a promising approach to enhance remyelination; however, the influence of the OPCs' microenvironmental origin on their therapeutic efficacy remains unclear. This study compared the remyelinating capacity of OPCs isolated from inflammatory (lipopolysaccharide) and non-inflammatory (cuprizone) microenvironments after transplanting into the corpus callosum and examined their effects on extracellular matrix chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans (CSPGs).

Methods: OPCs were isolated from two microenvironments and characterized by immunocytochemistry and RT-qPCR. After transplanting, OPC homing, remyelination, gene expression, and CSPG levels were evaluated using DiI labeling, LFB staining, RT-qPCR, and immunofluorescence, respectively.

Results: Severe demyelination exhibited in the cuprizone group compared with healthy controls (p < 0.001) by Luxol fast blue staining. Myelin content significantly increased in both transplating OPCs groups (p < 0.001), with a higher impact observed in mice received OPCs isolated from cuprizone as compared with lipopolysaccharide (p < 0.001). Also, RT-qPCR analysis exhibited significantly reduced MBP expression in the cuprizone group, whereas was significantly increased after OPC transplantation, particularly in the cuprizone-derived OPC group (p < 0.001), whereas a lower increased with lipopolysaccharide-derived OPCs (p < 0.01). MOG expression exhibited a same pattern, with a significantly increase in the cuprizone-derived OPC group compared with both the cuprizone and lipopolysaccharide-derived OPC groups (p < 0.001). Additionally, Immunofluorescence analysis exhibited increasing CSPG4 levels in the cuprizone group, but significantly reduced after OPC transplantation (p < 0.001). Notably, in the cuprizone-derived OPC group higher reduction of CSPG4 levels observed compare with in the lipopolysaccharide-derived OPC group (p < 0.001).

Conclusion: OPC transplantation improves remyelination and reduces the CSPG level, but the effectiveness is more related to the previous history of the OPC isolation microenvironment and the new donor.

Apolipoprotein E receptor 2 (apoER2), a primary receptor for apoE, has recently been linked to Alzheimer's disease. Compared with the most common form of apoE, apoE3, the apoE4 isoform increases the risk for developing Alzheimer's disease. ApoE4 impairs brain insulin signaling, a feature of Alzheimer's disease that correlates with cognitive decline. Insulin availability in the brain largely depends on blood-brain barrier (BBB) transport and contributes to brain insulin signaling. We have previously shown that the apoE4 isoform leads to regional reductions in insulin BBB transport in mice on a Western diet compared to apoE3 isoform. However, how insulin transport across the BBB is regulated by apoE isoforms is not well understood. Here we investigated a role of endothelial apoER2 in the effects of apoE isoforms on insulin BBB transport, using mice genetically expressing human apoE3 or apoE4 and expressing or lacking endothelial apoER2. We found that a loss of endothelial apoER2 did not overtly affect insulin BBB transport in either apoE3- or apoE4-expressing mice, except in the frontal cortex and pons/medulla, where decreased transport was observed in apoE3 mice lacking endothelial apoER2. These findings indicate that the effect of apoE4 on insulin BBB transport is largely independent of endothelial apoER2. In contrast, endothelial apoER2 may regulate insulin BBB transport in limited regions of the brain through its binding to apoE3.

Introduction: Gait initiation relies on the integration of postural control, sensory input, and attention. All three components are impaired in Parkinson disease, which may contribute to characteristic gait initiation deficits, including shorter, slower first steps and smaller anticipatory postural adjustments. Understanding how sensory and attentional demands influence gait initiation could inform interventions that target underlying mechanisms rather than focusing solely on managing symptoms. This study examined the roles of vision and attention on gait initiation in people with Parkinson disease compared to older adult controls. We hypothesized that altering visual input and attentional demands would worsen gait initiation in both groups, with stronger effects in people with Parkinson disease. We also expected an interaction between visual input and attentional demands for people with Parkinson disease, further exacerbating impairment.

Methods: Sixteen people with Parkinson disease (Hoehn & Yahr stages I-III, on medication), and 16 older adults (aged 55+) initiated gait under four visual conditions: unaltered input, partial occlusion, full occlusion, and additional visual stimuli, each performed with and without a cognitive dual task. We measured first step length, first step speed, and anticipatory postural adjustment size to compare between groups and conditions.

Results: No interaction effects between group and condition were observed (all p ≥ 0.159). Full visual occlusion resulted in reduced first step length, first step speed, and anteroposterior anticipatory postural adjustment size (p ≤ 0.006). Partial occlusion resulted in decreased first step length and increased mediolateral anticipatory postural adjustment size (p ≤ 0.049). Gait initiation under a cognitive-motor dual task condition resulted in decrements across all variables (p ≤ 0.007).

Conclusions: Reduced visual input and increased attentional demands impair gait initiation in older adults and people with Parkinson disease. These findings highlight the roles of visual input and attention during gait initiation, but suggest visuo-attentional deficits may not uniquely contribute to hypokinesia in this population.

It is often assumed that women receive less recognition than men for the same work or performance. We test this assumption via two large-scale online-survey experiments involving 3,157 (Study I) and 2,909 (Study II) respondents respectively. In both studies, subjects watched a two-minute video in which either a female or a male character presented either a male-associated topic, a gender-neutral topic, or a female-associated topic. Since former research suggests that the attractiveness of the presenter increases performance evaluations, we also varied the attractiveness of the presenting characters. Study I uses a 2 (gender) by 2 (attractiveness) by 3 (topic) design. The video presentations were created using an artificial intelligence video-maker that used human-like avatars. In Study II, the presentations were conducted by real humans. The findings from both studies suggest that gender has no influence on how respondents evaluate presentations. Additionally, in Study I we find that attractive male avatar presenters receive more favorable evaluations than less attractive males. In contrast, female avatar presenters do not receive an attractiveness bonus. However, when using real humans instead of avatars we did not find this attractiveness bonus for men.

Theileria orientalis, an obligatory intracellular blood protozoon, which causes the substantial economic losses to the cattle industry and is widely prevalent throughout Bangladesh. The study was aimed to assess the nationwide prevalence, genetic diversity and evolutionary divergence of T. orientalis parasites in Bangladesh by analyzing bovine blood samples. The genetic characterization, haplotype network analysis and Codon-based evolutionary divergence was conducted by targeting the major piroplasm surface protein (MPSP) gene. The overall prevalence of T. orientalis was 63.75% (n = 800), as determined by MPSP-PCR across the eight divisions of Bangladesh with significant regional variation. Subsequent phylogenetic analysis showed that the query MPSP sequences were clustered into two genotypes namely 5 and 7. Genetic diversity indicated high haplotype and moderate nucleotide diversity but consistent with contrasting demographic and selective pressures across regions. The evolutionary divergence analysis revealed the complex genetic landscape of T. orientalis population which shaped by historical expansion, ongoing gene flow and localized diversification. The haplotype network analysis identified total 29 distinct haplotypes, highlighting substantial diversity within the two genotypes. These findings demonstrate the occurrence and genetic richness of T. orientalis in cattle of Bangladesh. Although the pathogenic impact could not be assessed in this study, the presence of diverse genotypes suggests a need for continued surveillance and future research to determine the clinical and economic relevance of this parasite.

Significance: Flavor accessories (e.g., flavor capsules), which are separate products that can be used with combustible tobacco products to alter their flavor, are on the market. These new products may bypass flavor restrictions and appeal to youth, yet no research has examined US youth awareness or use of flavor accessories. This study aimed to examine awareness and use of flavor accessories among a sample of youth in the US.

Methods: A school-based survey of 4,760 Connecticut high school students (mean age = 15.9, SD = 1.2) was conducted in April-May 2024. All youth reported on awareness of flavor accessories (i.e., flavor capsules, sprays/drops, cards). Youth who had ever used combustible tobacco products (i.e., cigarettes, cigars, cigarillos) or cannabis blunts, which are all products that can be used with flavor accessories (N = 868), also reported on ever use of flavor accessories. Differences in awareness by ever product user type (i.e., exclusive combustible tobacco (n = 173), exclusive blunt (n = 461), dual tobacco and blunt (n = 234)) were assessed using Bonferroni-corrected chi-square tests.

Results: Overall, 22.9% of youth were aware of at least one type of flavor accessory. Among ever users of combustible tobacco or blunts, awareness of at least one type of flavor accessory was 32.8%, with awareness most common for flavor capsules (19.6%), followed by sprays/drops (16.3%), and cards (9.5%). Among this group, more dual users of combustible tobacco and blunts were aware of at least one type of flavor accessory compared to exclusive users of combustible tobacco (44.1% vs 26.3%, p = 0.002) and compared to exclusive users of blunts (44.1% vs 30.8%, p = 0.005). Among ever users of combustible tobacco or blunts, ever use of any flavor accessory was 7.6%, ranging from 4.7% for flavor capsules, 3.5% for sprays/drops, and 2.7% for cards.

Conclusions: Nearly one-quarter of a sample of Connecticut high school youth were aware of flavor accessories, with differences in awareness by product user groups, although ever use of these products was lower. Continued monitoring of flavor accessories is critical for informing regulatory actions and interventions.

Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) is typically stored in pressurized spherical tanks, where accidental leaks can create dense, flammable vapor clouds. This study used PHAST to simulate LPG dispersion from a refinery-scale spherical tank, considering various leak diameters (5-805 mm), leak locations, seasonal meteorological conditions, and three propane-butane mixtures (15/85, 30/70, and 50/50 by volume). Dispersion distances were evaluated at both the Lower Flammability Limit (LFL) and 50% LFL thresholds. The findings indicate that leak diameter is the primary factor influencing dispersion extent, showing strong correlations for both LFL (ρ = 0.89) and 50% LFL (ρ = 0.91). Predicted dispersion distances downwind ranged from approximately 20-60 m for small leaks to around 400-800 m for larger releases, depending on the concentration threshold and release conditions. Distances at the 50% LFL were consistently greater than those at the LFL. Power-law regression revealed nearly linear scaling between dispersion distance and leak diameter (b = 0.94 for LFL and b = 0.96 for 50% LFL), explaining over 80% of the observed variance. Butane-rich mixtures resulted in longer dispersion distances at the LFL, while compositional effects were not significant at the 50% LFL. Meteorological and temporal factors had limited influence under typical site conditions. Overall, the results emphasize comparative scaling behavior rather than pointwise concentration prediction and demonstrate deviations from ideal D² scaling due to turbulence, buoyancy, and atmospheric entrainment. Using both LFL and 50% LFL thresholds provides a conservative and practically relevant basis for hazard zoning, quantitative risk assessment, and emergency planning at LPG storage facilities.

Hepatitis A virus (HAV) remains a significant public health concern in the United States. Because infected individuals shed virus through stool, HAV can be detected in wastewater. Shedding occurs prior to the onset of symptoms that lead to clinical diagnosis, highlighting the potential of wastewater as an early case detection tool. This analysis aims to quantify key diagnostic metrics of wastewater surveillance for detecting HAV cases, which have not been previously defined. Utilizing wastewater data from the Point Loma Wastewater Treatment Facility in San Diego County, which serves around 2.2 million people, we assessed the sensitivity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) of wastewater HAV signals (positive/negative) in identifying shedding cases over a 308-day period. The number of people shedding virus on a given day was estimated through confirmed cases and presumed shedding intervals (2 weeks before and 1 week after symptom onset) and compared to wastewater signals. The sensitivity in detecting at least one shedding case on a given day using observed wastewater signals was 48.1%. Reclassifying the wastewater signal using simple data aggregations yielded sensitivities from 67.3% to 84.6%. Sensitivity increased as more individuals were shedding virus. The highest PPV (52.2%) and NPV (74.2%) were observed when a 5-sample trimmed centered average was used to reclassify the wastewater signal, indicating the utility of this preprocessing method. Conditional on clinical case detection and shedding assumptions, our study demonstrates that wastewater is a promising tool, providing signals that can inform public health surveillance.