Search Results (650)

Objectives: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is associated with high risk of ischaemic stroke (IS). Oral anticoagulant therapy (OAT) is the standard of care for stroke prevention, even though its management remains challenging in clinical practice. An emerging problem is embolic events occurring on adequately conducted OAT, the so-called resistant stroke (RS). We aimed to describe pre-stroke prevention therapy, management on hospital discharge, and therapy at follow-up in all patients with AF hospitalized for IS and in the RS subgroup. Methods: We conducted a retrospective monocentric study of patients with known AF hospitalized for an IS. A subgroup with RS was identified. We recorded information on prevention therapy at home, recommended therapy at discharge, and data on outcome and prevention therapy at follow-up. Results: We identified 226 patients, 61% females, median age 84.04 years. Preventive therapy at home was performed in 121 (53.5%) (119 OAT and 2 Left Atrial Appendage Occlusion). At hospital discharge OAT was prescribed to 78.2% of patients. RS was diagnosed in 33 patients whose management at discharge was: same OAT in 12, shift to another Direct Oral Anticoauglant (DOAC) in 5, from DOAC to Vitamin K Antagonist (VKA) and vice versa in 11, non-specified OAT in 4. At final, follow-up of 208 days (range 85–443) 23.3% (34/146) did not assume OAT. OAT was significantly associated with survival probability (p < 0.001). Conclusions: Our findings confirm a scarce adoption of guidelines for AF-related embolic events, even in the absence of absolute contraindication to OAT. RS remains an underexplored clinical entity with empirical management, highlighting the need for targeted research and tailored therapeutic strategies. Full article

Insect phonotaxis is influenced by various external and internal factors related to the environment and to the inner states of an organism. Previously, we found that flight, a natural behavior common among insects, significantly enhances the subsequent phonotactic response of female crickets (Gryllus bimaculatus) via serotonergic mechanisms. It is known that phonotaxis is also present in male crickets. However, the natural factors influencing phonotaxis in males and the neurochemical mechanisms behind these effects remained unknown. Our goal was to clarify these points and to compare phonotaxis of freely moving male and female crickets using a recently developed experimental paradigm. First, we found that freely moving male and female crickets demonstrate similar phonotactic response, quantitatively evaluated based on the time that animals spent near the source of calling song, their average distance to it and the number of approaches to it. We also found that the experience of previous flight increased phonotaxis in male crickets as it does in females. Also, as in females, this effect was associated with serotonergic neurotransmission. Thus, the manifestation of phonotactic behavior in freely moving male and female crickets, as well as the behavioral and monoaminergic modulation of phonotaxis in both sexes, appear to be quite similar in our experimental paradigm. Full article

Background/Objectives: Recent data shows increasing diabetes prevalence among African Americans. Youth with a family history of diabetes are at high risk for diabetes. This study explores the multilevel risk factors associated with a family history of diabetes among African American youth in public housing. Methods: This study used a cross-sectional, quantitative, and community-based participatory research (CBPR) approach. The research team, comprising community stakeholders and academic researchers, employed respondent-driven sampling (RDS) for data collection (survey) and used univariate and bivariate analyses to examine variable relationships. A sequential logistic regression highlighted factors influencing the likelihood of having a family history of diabetes. Results: The final sample (n = 190, mean age 18.5 years, 58% female) included 35% of youth with a family history of diabetes. Forty-six percent reported medium to severe household hardships. Results suggest that reporting a family history of diabetes is correlated with maternal substance use (tau-b = 0.27 **) and alcohol problems (tau-b = 0.16 ***), paternal substance use (tau-b = 0.17 *), and eating fewer fruits (tau-b = 0.17 *). With an odds ratio (OR) of 1.70 [0.68, 4.13] and attributable fraction among the exposed at 41.3%, the final model (3) was not significant [χ² = 11.19(8)]. Thus, we fail to reject the null hypothesis that the model fits the data well. Fewer vegetable consumption (OR = 15.08, p < 0.001), higher soda consumption (OR = 0.06, p < 0.001), severe household hardships (OR = 5.82, p < 0.01), and maternal substance use problems (OR = 6.81, p < 0.05) predicted a higher likelihood of a history of diabetes. Conclusions: Our study calls attention to the need to reevaluate interventions for hardships and substance use in diabetes management, particularly in poor neighborhoods and among minority families. Full article

Some of Spain’s greatest humanists—Juan Luis Vives, Antonio de Nebrija, Juan de Ávila, Luis de León, and Benito Arias Montano—were from a converso background. Recent scholarship suggests that two of the three most influential religious movements in sixteenth-century Spain—Juan de Ávila’s evangelical movement and Teresa of Ávila’s Barefoot Carmelites—were founded by conversos and presented converso membership, whose winds of religious innovation to tame Christian Orthodoxy and Counter-Reformation Spanish society, through the influence of Italian Humanism and reform, prioritized spiritual practice, social toleration, and religious concord. Indeed, Santa Teresa de Ávila, a major innovator within the Spanish Church, was herself from a converso family with Jewish ancestry. She became a key female theologist who transcended as an identity marker of the Spanish Baroque, conceived as quintessential of the Spanish Golden Age. Coopted in different periods, she “reappeared” in the 1930s as Patron of the Sección Femenina de la Falange y de las JONS, the women’s branch of the new radical right, turning into a role model of femininity for highly conservative religious women. Consecrated as “Santa de la Raza”, she became the undisputable womanized icon of the so-called “Spanish Crusade”, the slogan which General F. Franco implemented, with the approval of the Spanish Catholic Church, to re-cast in a pseudo-theological narrative the rebellion against the Spanish Second Republic in July 1936. This article examines different appropriations of the figure of Teresa de Ávila as a pillar of “Hispanidad”, in the last centuries within the changing sociopolitical contexts and theological debates in which this instrumentalization appeared. By highlighting the plasticity of this converso figure, the article suggests possible lines of research regarding the Jewish origins of some national icons in Spain. Full article

Background: The human body’s exposure to high levels of endogenous estrogens and their metabolites, such as estradiol, estriol, 2-hydroxyestradiol, and 4-hydroxyestradiol, is implicated in the development and complications of breast cancers (BCs). Besides endogenous estrogen production, the human body is also exposed to environmental sources of estrogen and estrogen-like compounds, which include pharmaceutical estrogens, xenoestrogens, and phytoestrogens. Females consume pharmaceutical estrogens as a constituent of postmenopausal hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and oral contraceptive pills, either alone or in combination with progestins. Additionally, humans, including females, are exposed to estrogen-resembling non-native compounds called xenoestrogens, prevailing in pesticides, plastics, and personal care items via inhalation, dermal contact, and oral consumption. Several phytoestrogens, such as isoflavones and lignans, are consumed by humans as food ingredients. Methods and Results: Emerging cellular and molecular experimental evidence indicates that when binding to estrogen receptors (ERs), various pharmaceutical estrogens, including equine/synthetic forms, progestin combinations, and xenoestrogens, promote BC development and complications by triggering survival, proliferation, angiogenesis, and invasion of these cells. Conversely, other experimental observations reveal the protective and beneficial effects of phytoestrogens like genistein from soy products on BC development and complications. Conclusions: This comprehensive review article describes the implications of exposure to exogenous estrogens, such as pharmaceutical estrogens, xenoestrogens, and phytoestrogens, as risk factors in the prevention or development of BC and its complications. Full article

Today’s increasingly brittle, anxious, nonlinear, incomprehensible world of work calls for a socially and emotionally competent workforce. However, there is a clear gap in higher education settings regarding the assessment and promotion of students’ social and emotional competence (SEC). Our study aims to address the pressing need to evaluate and develop higher education students’ SEC by providing a tool to assess these skills, enabling researchers and practitioners to intervene and actively promote them. A sample of 767 higher education students (62.8% female, M = 22.88 years, SD = 7.30) enrolled in the study. Structural, discriminant and concurrent criterion validity, and reliability of the measure were assessed. A multiple hierarchical regression analysis tested the relation of SEC and well-being. Confirmatory Factor Analysis supported the hypothesized factorial structures. Coefficient omegas indicated adequate internal consistency. The results also supported the measure’s discriminant and criterion validities in relation to external measures. Multi-group invariance across gender and academic fields was attained. We found evidence of the predictive role of intrapersonal skills on students’ personal and academic well-being. This study bridges a gap in research and practice by introducing a psychometrically sound yet parsimonious instrument for assessing higher education students’ SEC. It also highlights the supportive role of SEC in promoting students’ well-being. Full article

The pre-courtship behavior of Proholopterus chilensis on Nothofagus obliqua trees was recorded for the first time, documenting a putative female “calling” behavior and the consequent male “oriented search,” enabling the description of behavioral units, sequences, frequencies, and degrees of stereotypy. Post-resting activity in both sexes began with walking and grooming during the first hour of the scotophase, following a period of daytime inactivity. Subsequently, females extended their ovipositor both horizontally and vertically, alternating between contact with the tree substrate and, simultaneously, walking the surface (=putative calling behavior), while males became active, extending their antennae perpendicularly to the longitudinal body axis. In response to the putative call, males exhibited oriented flight and hasty walking that followed the trajectory and direction previously taken by females on the substrate, ultimately leading to their location. Statistical analysis of behavioral sequences and the stereotypy index indicated that both behaviors were non-random and partially stereotyped. These findings are consistent with previous chemical analyses of female aerations and terminalia performed by our research group, which identified semiochemicals likely functioning as long-range sex pheromones guiding males to the vicinity of the female’s tree, as well as potential trail pheromones facilitating close-range localization. This dual signaling system seems necessary to the high mobility displayed by females during calling behavior, characterized by frequent and extended bidirectional vertical walks along the trunk, which may enhance signal dispersal and/or reduce predation risk. If confirmed, this would represent a novel sexual encounter mechanism within Cerambycidae. Full article

This study presents a systematic literature review and bibliometric analysis focused on female-led nanoenterprises in rural contexts, a marginal yet increasingly relevant category within enterprise research. Despite the growing attention to micro and small businesses, nanoenterprises—defined as unipersonal, informal, low-income productive units—remain underexplored and largely excluded from formal economic frameworks. Using the PRISMA 2020 guidelines with the 10-step B-SLR approach, 12 peer-reviewed articles were selected through a targeted search combining terms such as “nanoenterprise”, “women”, and “rural”. The analysis included citation counts, journal impact, country of origin, and thematic focus. Findings indicate conceptual and geographic fragmentation in existing research, with studies concentrated in Latin America, Asia, and Africa, and focused primarily on commerce, personal services, and subsistence agriculture. Gender emerges as a structural axis, as women face compounded barriers in digital access, credit, and formal recognition. The review reveals a lack of theoretical consolidation, comparative studies, and longitudinal research. This work contributes by articulating the distinct nature of nanoenterprises, proposing a research agenda, and highlighting their role in fostering economic inclusion, resilience, and empowerment among marginalized populations. The results call for inclusive public policies and scholarly frameworks that go beyond traditional models of entrepreneurship. Full article

Background/Objectives: Gender Medicine addresses how sex- and gender-based differences influence people’s health. Blood pressure (BP), which is the leading global risk factor for cardiovascular disease, shows a sexual dimorphism. This is seen also in case of shift work, as shift work is associated with hypertension in the male sex. It is not clear if this may be extended also to night-shift work, as data for this are limited. Based on this background, the aim of this study was to evaluate whether there were sex differences in the 24 h BP profile during a day with a day shift and a day with a night shift. Methods: This study is a post hoc analysis of a previous study where we evaluated ambulatory blood pressure monitoring data for two days, in a day with a day shift (and night of rest) and in a day with a night shift. Results: Overall, 25 subjects (physicians) were included in the analysis, of whom 10 were (40%) males and 15 were (60%) females. No differences were recorded in terms of age, years of work, number of steps, admissions, and calls during the recordings between the two sexes. Subjects worked on average 1.2 night per month, indicating that this population had a low exposure to night-shift work. BP patterns did not differ between sexes, but BP levels were always higher in males than females. Nevertheless, only females showed a significant increase of SBP during the night shift as compared to the night of rest. Both males and females showed a significant reduction in BP dipping during the night shift, but only in females, the significant reduction in BP dipping was maintained after the night-shift work. Interestingly, BMAL1 gene expression, which is a gene of the circadian rhythm, increased significantly after the night shift only in females, suggesting that females display an earlier acrophase than males after night-shift work, which may be associated with tolerance to shiftwork. Conclusions: Our data are consistent with the concept that blood pressure display several sex/gender differences. Males had higher BP values, but females showed signs of lower tolerance to shift work. This might be due to sex differences in the circadian rhythm regulation, which, in turns, regulate physiological functions, such as blood pressure. Full article

This study explores the relationship between academic motivation, Machiavellian traits, and lying tendencies among Romanian engineering students, with a focus on how these psychological variables influence academic performance. Data were collected from 706 students using the MUSIC Model of Motivation, the Machiavellianism Scale, and the Lie Attitude Questionnaire. Statistical analysis included Spearman correlations, regression models, and moderation analysis using PROCESS Macro (Model 7). The results showed significant negative correlations between Machiavellianism and all five motivational dimensions (e.g., ρ = −0.259 for Empowerment, p < 0.001), as well as between lying tendencies and motivation (e.g., ρ = −0.206 for Empowerment, p < 0.001). Surprisingly, Machiavellianism had a positive effect on academic grades (β = 0.107, p = 0.043), suggesting strategic academic behavior. Motivation was a stronger predictor of performance among female students. These findings highlight the importance of promoting ethical, intrinsic motivation in university settings and call for thoughtful integration of behavioral variables into academic success models. Full article

Seeds of different Vitis cultivars (V. vinifera subsp. vinifera) have an interesting diversity of shapes, ranging from the small seeds of high solidity and low aspect ratio in some species of Vitis and V. vinifera subsp. Sylvestris to other morphological types with elongated stalks, characteristic of the more recent cultivars, suggesting a transition with alterations in seed shape associated with groups of cultivars. J-index analysis is a morphometrical technique that measures the percentage similarity of seed images with geometric models. Three models based on the outlines of reference cultivars (a model based on the Spanish female cultivar Hebén; and mixed models for French and German Chenin and Gewürtztraminer, both related to Savagnin Blanc; and Regina dei Vigneti and Muscat Hamburg, related with the Muscat group) have been applied to select the average outlines (Aos) resembling these models from a collection of cultivars maintained at IMIDRA. Three groups resulted, called Hebén, Chenin, and Regina, with 15, 25, and 18 cultivars, respectively. Principal component analysis (PCA) with the Fourier coefficients of the Aos for these cultivars and seeds of other species of Vitis and V. vinifera subsp. sylvestris showed differences between groups. Specific Fourier coefficients were related with geometric properties of the seeds, circularity, roundness, aspect ratio, and solidity as well as with diverse measurements of curvature allowing to establish hypothesis about the change in geometric properties along the evolution of cultivars. Full article

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of nutritional education on nutritional knowledge, nutritional status, and quality of life in patients with liver cirrhosis. Methods: Thirty patients participated. At baseline, assessments were conducted to collect data on demographics, physical activity, anthropometric and biochemical measures, dietary habits, 24 h food intake, nutritional status, quality of life, and nutritional knowledge. Participants received a 30 min face-to-face nutritional education session by a registered dietitian, repeated after one month. A follow-up phone call was conducted one month later to reinforce the education. Final evaluations were completed one month after the call. Results: A significant upward trend was detected in nutritional knowledge scores after the intervention period (from 7.4 ± 2.76 to 9.2 ± 3.45). The physical component of quality of life improved, while the mental component showed a slight decline. Dietary changes included reduced energy and protein intake among females and increased protein intake in males. In both genders, fat intake increased and carbohydrate intake decreased. Biochemical improvements were observed, including significant reductions in gamma-glutamyl transferase, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, and triglycerides in females and alanine aminotransferase and gamma-glutamyl transferase in males. Conclusions: Structured nutritional education may improve nutritional knowledge, dietary behavior, and biochemical markers in cirrhosis patients. Longer follow-up durations may further enhance these improvements. Full article

Background: The progression of Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) deeply affects not only the diagnosed person but also their close relatives, who are often called to take on the role of informal caregivers. This transition is frequently unplanned and emotionally complex, yet poorly understood in its deeper processual dimensions. This study aims to explore and theorize the transition experienced by a family member becoming the primary informal caregiver for a person with advanced AD. Methods: A qualitative study based on the Constructivist Grounded Theory according to Charmaz’s approach (2006) was conducted. In-depth interviews were carried out with 10 participants who had become informal caregivers for a loved one with advanced AD. Data were analyzed using initial coding, focused coding, the constant comparative method, and theoretical coding. Results: Ten caregivers (mean age 39 years, range 35–54; nine females) of patients with advanced AD participated in the study. The analysis revealed a complex, emotionally intense caregiving experience marked by sacrifice, feelings of powerlessness, identity loss, and the necessity of sharing caregiving responsibilities. A core category emerged: A Silent and Certain Willingness to Care, representing the caregivers’ deep, often unconscious commitment to prioritize the care of their loved ones above their own needs. Four interconnected phases characterized the caregiving process: (1) The Changing Daily Life—involving significant sacrifices in personal and social life; (2) Feeling Powerless—confronting the inevitable decline without means to alter the course; (3) Losing Oneself—experiencing physical and psychological exhaustion and a sense of identity loss; and (4) Sharing with Others—seeking external support to sustain caregiving. These findings highlight the evolving nature of becoming a caregiver and the enduring dedication that sustains this role despite the challenges. Conclusions: The progression of AD deeply transforms the lives of caregivers, who become co-sufferers and active participants in the disease’s management. The results underscore the urgency of designing integrative care strategies—including psychological, social, and potentially technological support—that can enhance both patient outcomes and caregiver resilience. Grounded in real-world experiences, this study contributes to the broader neurodegeneration discourse by emphasizing caregiving as a critical factor in long-term disease management and therapeutic success. Full article

The mental and physical health of college students, especially in urban environments like Shanghai, is crucial given the high academic and urban stressors, which were intensified by the COVID-19 lockdown. Prior research has shown gender differences in health impacts during public health crises, with females often more vulnerable to mental health issues. Objective: This study aimed to comprehensively assess the physical and psychological health of Chinese college students post-lockdown, focusing on the relationship between stress, anxiety, depression, sleep patterns, and physical health, with a particular emphasis on gender differences. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study involving 116 students in Shanghai, utilizing psychological scales (HAMA, IPAQ, PSQI, SDS, FS 14, PSS, SF-36) and physical fitness tests (resting heart rate, blood pressure, hand grip, forced vital capacity, standing long jump, sit-and-reach, one-minute sit-up test and the one-minute squat test, single-leg stand test with eyes closed), to analyze health and behavior during the pandemic lockdown. All students have undergone the same life habits during the pandemic. Results: The HAMA scores indicated no significant levels of physical or mental anxiety. The PSS results (42.45 ± 8.93) reflected a high overall stress level. Furthermore, the PSQI scores (5.4 ± 2.91) suggested that the participants experienced mild insomnia. The IPAQ scores indicated higher levels of job-related activity (1261.49 ± 2144.58), transportation activity (1253.65 ± 987.57), walking intensity (1580.78 ± 1412.20), and moderate-intensity activity (1353.03 ± 1675.27) among college students following the lockdown. Hand grip strength (right) (p = 0.001), sit-and-reach test (p = 0.001), standing long jump (p = 0.001), and HAMA total score (p = 0.033) showed significant differences between males and females. Three principal components were identified in males: HAMA, FS14, and PSQI, explaining a total variance of 70.473%. Similarly, three principal components were extracted in females: HAMA, PSQI, and FS14, explaining a total variance of 69.100%. Conclusions: Our study underscores the complex interplay between physical activity (PA), mental health, and quality of life, emphasizing the need for gender-specific interventions. The persistent high stress, poor sleep quality, and reduced PA levels call for a reorganized teaching schedule to enhance student well-being without increasing academic pressure. Full article

Accurate estimation of metabolizable energy requirements (MER) is essential for appropriate dietary planning in dogs. However, standardized recommendations may not reflect the variability observed in clinical practice, particularly regarding individual factors such as neutering status, body condition, and age. This study aimed to retrospectively assess the MER factor in dogs treated at a Brazilian veterinary hospital, considering variables including sex, neuter status, body condition score (BCS), muscle mass score (MMS), body size, and life stage, and to compare the findings with those typically reported in the scientific literature. A total of 438 medical records from 2013 to 2025 were reviewed for this study. Data on demographic and clinical variables were collected, and MER factors were calculated based on energy intake and body weight. Statistical analyses were conducted to evaluate the interactions between variables, particularly BCS and neutering status. The study population included 253 males (57.8%) and 185 females (42.2%), with 80.6% of them being neutered. The MER values varied widely across the subgroups. Neutered dogs had consistently lower energy factors than intact dogs (p < 0.0001), and energy requirements decreased progressively with increasing BCS, regardless of neutering status (p < 0.05). A significant interaction between BCS and neutering status was observed (p = 0.0089), although BCS alone was not a significant predictor (p = 0.9670). No substantial differences were observed based on sex, body size, or life stage. MER values observed in clinical practice differ from standard recommendations and are influenced by the interaction between neutering status and body condition. These findings reinforce the need for individualized nutritional assessments in companion animal medicine and call for further studies to refine clinical energy estimation models. Full article