Search Results (123)

Background/Objectives: Feigning spectrum behavior (FSB) is the exaggeration, fabrication, or false imputation of symptoms. It occurs in compensable injury with great cost to society by way of loss of productivity and excessive costs. The aim of this study is to identify feigning by developing cut scores on the long and short forms (SF) of the Orebro Musculoskeletal Pain Screening Questionnaire (OMPSQ and OMPSQ-SF) and the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS and PSS-4). Methods: As part of pre-screening for a support program, 40 injured workers who had been certified unfit for work for more than 2 weeks were screened once with the OMPSQ and PSS by telephone by a mental health professional. A control sample comprised of 40 non-injured community members were screened by a mental health professional on four occasions under different aliases, twice responding genuinely and twice simulating an injury. Results: Differences between the workplace injured people and the community sample were compared using ANCOVA with age and gender as covariates, and then receiver operator characteristics (ROCs) were calculated. The OMPSQ and OMPSQ-SF discriminated (ρ < 0.001) between all conditions. All measures discriminated between the simulation condition and workplace injured people (ρ < 0.001). Intraclass correlation demonstrated the PSS, PSS-4, OMPSQ, and OMPSQ-SF were reliable (ρ < 0.001). Area Under the Curve (AUC) was 0.750 for OMPSQ and 0.835 for OMPSQ-SF for work-injured versus simulators. Conclusions: The measures discriminated between injured and non-injured people and non-injured people instructed to simulate injury. Non-injured simulators produced similar scores when they had multiple exposures to the test materials, showing the uniformity of feigning spectrum behavior on these measures. The OMPSQ-SF has adequate discriminant validity and sensitivity to feigning spectrum behavior, making it optimal for telephone screening in clinical practice. Full article

Background and Objectives: Anesthetic agents may influence brain function, and emerging evidence suggests possible neurotoxicity under certain conditions. S100β is a well-established biomarker of brain injury and blood–brain barrier disruption, and its prolonged elevation beyond 6–12 h, despite a short half-life, may indicate ongoing neuronal injury. Its use in cesarean section (C-section) remains limited, despite the potential neurological implications of both surgical stress and anesthetic technique. This study evaluates potential brain injury during caesarean section by comparing maternal and neonatal S100β levels under general and spinal anesthesia. Materials and Methods: This observational prospective study compared changes in the S100β brain damage biomarker in maternal (pre- and post-surgery) and umbilical artery blood during elective c-sections under general or spinal anesthesia. The 60 parturient women who underwent a C-section from 1 July 2021 to 30 December 2023 were evenly distributed into 2 groups: General anesthesia (GA) (n = 30) and Spinal anesthesia (SA) group (n = 30). It included healthy term pregnant women aged 18–40, ASA I–II and excluded those with major comorbidities or emergency conditions. Results: S100β concentrations slightly increased once the C-section was over in both the SA and GA groups, but without notable differences. In the SA and GA groups, preoperative S100β concentration in maternal blood was 195.1 ± 36.2 ng/L, 193.0 ± 54.3 ng/L, then increased to 200.9 ± 42.9 ng/L, 197.0 ± 42.7 at the end of operation. There was no statistically significant difference in S100β concentrations between the spinal and general anesthesia groups (p = 0.86). Conclusions: S100β concentrations slightly increased after C-section in both groups. The form of anesthesia seems to be irrelevant for the S100β level. However, further research is needed to confirm these findings and fully evaluate any potential long-term effects. Full article

Background: Glioblastoma (GBM) resists current therapies due to its rapid proliferation, diffuse invasion, and heterogeneous cell populations. We previously showed that a single cold atmospheric plasma discharge tube (DT) reduces GBM viability via broad-spectrum electromagnetic (EM) emissions. Here, we tested whether two DTs arranged in a helmet configuration could generate overlapping EM fields to amplify the anti-tumor effects without thermal injury. Methods: The physical outputs of the single- and dual-DT setups were characterized by infrared thermography, broadband EM field probes, and oscilloscope analysis. Human U87-MG cells were exposed under the single or dual configurations. The viability was quantified with WST-8 assays mapped across 96-well plates; the intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), membrane integrity, apoptosis, and mitochondrial potential were assessed by multiparametric flow cytometry. Our additivity models compared the predicted versus observed dual-DT cytotoxicity. Results: The dual-DT operation produced constructive EM interference, elevating electric and magnetic field amplitudes over a broader area than either tube alone, while temperatures remained <39 °C. The single-DT exposure lowered the cell viability by ~40%; the dual-DT treatment reduced the viability by ~60%, exceeding the additive predictions. The regions of greatest cytotoxicity co-localized with the zones of highest EM field overlap. The dual-DT exposure doubled the intracellular ROS compared with single-DT and Annexin V positivity, confirming oxidative stress-driven cell death. The out-of-phase operation of the discharge tubes enabled the localized control of the treatment regions, which can guide future treatment planning. Conclusions: Two synchronously operated plasma discharge tubes synergistically enhanced GBM cell killing through non-thermal mechanisms that coupled intensified overlapping EM fields with elevated oxidative stress. This positions modular multi-DT arrays as a potential non-invasive adjunct or alternative to existing electric-field-based therapies for glioblastoma. Full article

Objectives: To evaluate how a 10-day multi-stressor field-training course—combining high physical and psycho-emotional demands, caloric restriction, and severe sleep deprivation—affects systemic oxidative/antioxidative status and biomarkers of nucleic-acid and skeletal-muscle damage in trained military cadets. Methods: Seventy-five healthy cadets (8 women, 67 men; 22–34 y) completed the course. Standardised operational rations (700–800 kcal day⁻¹) and two 20 min tactical naps per 24 h were enforced. Pre- and post-course venous blood was collected after an overnight fast. Plasma superoxide-dismutase activity (SOD), reduced and oxidised glutathione (GSH, GSSG), malondialdehyde (MDA), and hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) were quantified by colourimetric/fluorometric assays; 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) and myoglobin were measured by ELISA. The oxidative-stress index (OSI) was calculated as GSSG·GSH⁻¹. Within-subject differences were assessed with Wilcoxon signed-rank tests; associations between biomarker changes were explored by Spearman correlation. Results: After training, GSH (+175%, p < 0.001) and GSSG (+32%, p < 0.001) rose significantly, whereas SOD (−19%, p = 0.002), H₂O₂ (−20%, p = 0.015), MDA (−50%, p < 0.001), 8-OHdG (−23%, p < 0.001), and OSI (−47%, p < 0.001) declined. Myoglobin remained unchanged (p = 0.603). Reductions in MDA correlated inversely with increases in GSSG (rₛ = −0.25, p = 0.041), while H₂O₂ changes correlated positively with GSSG (rₛ = 0.25, p = 0.046), indicating a glutathione-driven adaptive response. Conclusions: Ten consecutive days of vigorous, calorie- and sleep-restricted field training elicited a favourable redox adaptation characterised by enhanced glutathione-mediated antioxidant capacity and lower circulating oxidant concentrations, without evidence of DNA or skeletal-muscle damage. The data suggest that, in physically prepared individuals, prolonged multi-stressor exposure can strengthen endogenous antioxidant defences rather than precipitate oxidative injury. Full article

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has posed unprecedented challenges to global public health, highlighting the importance of prognostic biomarkers in critically ill patients. The oxidative stress developed in COVID-19 is associated with impairment in various human organs and systems, and it is related to erythrocyte injury, leading to an elevation in red cell distribution width (RDW) and systemic inflammation. This study aims to assess the prognostic value of erythrogram indicators and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels in 91 intensive care unit-admitted COVID-19 patients, categorized into survivor patients (discharge group) and non-survivor patients (death group). The results were presented using descriptive statistics and the Mann–Whitney test. The most severe cases of respiratory failure in which the patients did not survive showed higher red cell distribution width (RDW) and lower values of red blood cell count, hemoglobin, and hematocrit. RDW may be an important indicator of mortality, as demonstrated by the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. Furthermore, this increase in RDW is correlated with elevated CRP levels, another important clinical outcome for these patients. In conclusion, elevated RDW and CRP levels at admission may be reliable predictors of unfavorable outcomes, emphasizing the utility of these indicators in clinical assessments of COVID-19 patients. Full article

This paper explores the use of wearable technology (Garmin Fenix 7) to monitor physiological and psychological factors contributing to attrition during basic military training. Attrition, or the voluntary departure of recruits from the military, often results from physical and psychological challenges, such as fatigue, injury, and stress, which lead to significant costs for the military. To better understand and mitigate attrition, we designed and implemented a comprehensive and continuous data-capturing methodology to monitor 63 recruits during their basic infantry training. It’s optimized for military use by being minimally invasive (for both recruits and operators), preventing data leakage, and being built for scale. We analysed data collected from two test phases, focusing on seven key psychometric and physical features derived from baseline questionnaires and physiological measurements from wearable devices. The preliminary results revealed that recruits at risk of attrition tend to cluster in specific areas of the feature space in both Linear Discriminant Analysis (LDA) and Principal Component Analysis (PCA). Key indicators of attrition included low motivation, low resilience, and a stress mindset. Furthermore, we developed a predictive model using physiological data, such as sleep scores and step counts from Garmin devices, achieving a macro mean absolute error (MAE) of 0.74. This model suggests the potential to reduce the burden of daily wellness questionnaires by relying on continuous, unobtrusive monitoring. Full article

Background/objectives: Common carotid artery occlusion can cause oxidant and inflammatory damage to the optic nerve. In this study, the effect of sunitinib was investigated, the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of which have been previously reported and shown to be protective in I/R injury and in preventing bilateral optic nerve ischemia–reperfusion (I/R) injuries after unilateral common carotid artery ligation in rats. Methods: In this study, 18 Albino Wistar male rats were divided into SG (sham-operated), CCU (clamping and unclamping), and SCCU (sunitinib + clamping and unclamping) groups. One hour before the surgical procedures, sunitinib (25 mg/kg, oral) was given to SCCU rats. Anesthesia was induced with ketamine (60 mg/kg, ip) and sevoflurane. The right common carotid arteries of all rats were accessed under anesthesia. While the skin opened in SG rats was closed with sutures, the right common carotid arteries of CCU and SCCU rats were clipped, and an ischemia period was created for 10 min. Then, reperfusion (6 h) was achieved by unclipping. After euthanasia with ketamine (120 mg/kg, intraperitoneally), the right and left optic nerves of the rats were removed and examined biochemically and histopathologically. Results: Malondialdehyde, tumor necrosis factor α, interleukin-1β, and interleukin-6 were increased, and total glutathione levels had decreased in both ipsilateral and contralateral optic nerves (p < 0.05). These changes were more prominent on the ipsilateral side. Similarly, histopathological damage was observed to be more on the ipsilateral side (p < 0.05). Biochemical and histopathological changes were significantly suppressed in rats receiving sunitinib treatment (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Sunitinib may protect optic nerve tissue against I/R injury by reducing oxidative stress and inflammation. Full article

A health care approach that involves service users in decisions concerning their own health. It considers service users’ beliefs, values, support system, and experiences in co-creating an action plan to address their distinct health care goal [this is de novo based on diverse publications about person-centered care]. Full article

Repeated exposure to low-level blast overpressure, frequently experienced during explosive breaching and heavy weapons use in training and operations, is increasingly recognised as a serious risk to the neurological health of military personnel. Although research on the underlying pathobiological mechanisms in humans remains limited, this study investigated the effects of such exposure on circulating molecular biomarkers associated with inflammation, neurovascular damage, and endothelial injury. Blood samples from military breachers were analysed for myeloperoxidase (MPO), matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), and junctional proteins indicative of blood–brain barrier (BBB) disruption and endothelial damage, including occludin (OCLN), zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1), aquaporin-4 (AQP4), and syndecan-1 (SD-1). The results revealed significantly elevated levels of MPO, MMP-3, MMP-9, and MMP-10 in breachers compared to unexposed controls, suggesting heightened inflammation, oxidative stress, and vascular injury. Increased levels of OCLN and SD-1 further indicated BBB disruption and endothelial glycocalyx degradation in breachers. These findings highlight the potential for chronic neurovascular unit damage/dysfunction from repeated blast exposure and underscore the importance of early targeted interventions—such as reducing oxidative stress, reinforcing BBB integrity, and managing inflammation—that could be essential in mitigating the risk of long-term neurological impairment associated with blast exposure. Full article

Background/Objectives: The rising use of liver grafts from donation after circulatory death (DCD) has been enabled by advances in normothermic regional perfusion (NRP) and machine perfusion (MP) technologies. We aimed to identify predictive biomarkers in DCD grafts subjected to NRP, followed by randomization to either normothermic machine perfusion (NMP) or dual hypothermic oxygenated perfusion (D-HOPE). Methods: Among 57 DCD donors, 32 liver grafts were transplanted, and recipients were monitored for one week post-transplant. Biomarkers linked with oxidative stress, hepatic injury, mitochondrial dysfunction, inflammation, regeneration, and autophagy were measured during NRP, end-ischemic MP, and one week post-transplant. Results: Arginase-1 (ARG-1) levels were consistently higher in discarded grafts and in recipients who later developed early allograft dysfunction (EAD). Specifically, ARG-1 levels at the end of MP correlated with markers of hepatic injury. Receiver operating characteristic analysis indicated that ARG-1 at the end of MP had a good predictive accuracy for EAD (AUC = 0.713; p = 0.02). Lipid peroxidation (TBARS) elevated at the start of NRP, declined over time, with higher levels in D-HOPE than in NMP, suggesting a more oxidative environment in D-HOPE. Metabolites like flavin mononucleotide (FMN) and NADH exhibited significant disparities between perfusion types, due to differences in perfusate compositions. Inflammatory biomarkers rose during NRP and NMP but normalized post-transplantation. Regenerative markers, including osteopontin and hepatocyte growth factor, increased during NRP and NMP and normalized post-transplant. Conclusions: ARG-1 demonstrates strong potential as an early biomarker for assessing liver graft viability during perfusion, supporting timely and effective decision-making in transplantation. Full article

The number of women choosing agriculture as an occupation is increasing. Agriculture is dangerous work, and women are at risk of serious injury, but the research on injuries in females is sparse. Women perform different types of farmwork and have different exposures than men. Studies have not assessed injury in a large group of female agricultural operators. In this study, we used XGBoost, a machine learning algorithm, and logistic regression to examine 17 factors hypothesized to be associated with injury in 1529 farm and ranch women. The sample was split into a training group of 1070, and the results were replicated in a test group of 459. The model accuracy was 88%. We compared the results of XGBoost to those of the logistic regression models and computed odds ratios to estimate effect sizes. We found that the two methods generally agreed. XGBoost identified the total number of musculoskeletal symptoms, age, sleep deprivation, high work-related stress, and exposure to respiratory irritants as being important to injury. The multivariate logistic regression model identified higher income, higher stress, younger age, and number of musculoskeletal symptoms as being significantly associated with injury. The analysis highlights the importance of musculoskeletal disorders and work strain to injury in women. Full article

Propolis is a resinous substance produced by bees that has several biomedical properties that could contribute to the repair process of the gastric mucosa, such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, healing, and gastroprotective properties. Thus, this study aimed to determine the chemical composition of Mexicali propolis, its antioxidant capacity, and its effect on gastric repair. Three polarity-directed extracts were obtained: the ethanolic extract, the ethyl acetate extract, and the hexane extract. The antioxidant activity, total phenolic content (TPC), and flavone/flavonol content were determined for each extract. The chemical composition was analysed using HPLC—TOF—MS (High—Performance Liquid Chromatography—Time—Of—Flight Mass Spectrometry) and GC—MS (Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry), and a total of 52 compounds were identified. The results revealed that the ethanolic extract had the greatest effect on free radical scavenging and the content of bioactive compounds. On the basis of these results, the effect of the Mexicali ethanolic extract of propolis (MeEEP) on gastric repair was subsequently evaluated. Prior to the evaluation, MeEEP was found to exhibit low oral toxicity, as determined under the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) 425 guidelines. Gastric injury was induced in male C57BL/6 mice by intragastric administration of indomethacin (10 mg/kg). MeEEP (300 mg/kg) was administered 6 h after the induction of injury using indomethacin and daily thereafter. The mice were sacrificed at 12, 24, and 48 h to assess the effect. As a result, MeEEP enhanced the repair of the gastric lesion by decreasing the percentage of the bleeding area and attenuating the severity of histological damage, as demonstrated by H&E staining. This effect was associated with a reduction in MPO enzyme activity and in the levels of the proinflammatory cytokines TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6, maintaining controlled inflammation in gastric tissue. Furthermore, the administration of the extract increased SOD enzymatic activity and GSH levels, reducing the degree of oxidative damage in the gastric tissue, as demonstrated by low MDA levels. Finally, after evaluating the effect on apoptosis via immunohistochemistry, MeEEP was shown to reduce the expression of the proapoptotic marker Bax and increase the expression of the antiapoptotic marker Bcl-2. In conclusion, these findings suggest that MeEEP may enhance gastric repair through a cytoprotective mechanism by controlling inflammation exacerbation, reducing oxidative stress, and regulating apoptosis. These mechanisms are primarily attributed to the presence of pinocembrin, tectochrysin, chrysin, apigenin, naringenin, acacetin, genistein, and kaempferol. It is important to highlight that this study provides a preliminary exploration of the reparative effect of Mexican propolis, describing the potential mechanisms of action of the compounds present in Mexicali propolis. Full article

Background/Objectives: Aviation firefighting is a strenuous occupation that requires individuals to engage in intense physical activity amidst elevated stress levels and extreme environmental conditions. Despite this, there has been limited investigation regarding the internal and external loads associated with aviation firefighting tasks, which include hose dragging, stair climbing, casualty evacuation, and fire extinguishing in airports and aircrafts. The aim of this study was to examine the internal and external loads placed on aviation firefighters. By identifying these demands, this study seeks to inform the development of targeted training strategies, improve job safety, and lower the risk of musculoskeletal injuries. Methods: Sixteen Australian aviation firefighters (35.13 ± 8.2 years) were recruited and assigned specific roles to complete an aircraft firefighting scenario. Measures of heart rate (HR), oxygen consumption ($\dot{\mathrm{V}}$O₂), and rating of perceived exertion (RPE) were used to quantify internal load, while measures of completion time and distance travelled were used to quantify external load. Results: The median scenario completion time was 21 min (IQR = 5), with each role travelling a median distance of 245–541 m. During the scenario, median average HR values ranged between 61.1 and 72.0% HRmax and median maximal HR values ranged between 77.8 and 84.4% HRmax. As the only group to record $\dot{\mathrm{V}}$O₂, driver firefighters operated at a median average $\dot{\mathrm{V}}$O₂ of 49% of their $\dot{\mathrm{V}}$O_2max and achieved a median maximal $\dot{\mathrm{V}}$O₂ of 78% of their $\dot{\mathrm{V}}$O_2max. Conclusions: This study effectively identified the task-specific internal and external loads associated with aviation firefighting, offering valuable insights for developing specific training protocols for firefighters to ensure appropriate physical capacity to perform their job roles safely. Full article

Alkaline stress can induce significant injury to plants, resulting in a range of negative effects, including ion toxicity, oxidative stress, and damage from high pH values. These stress factors can substantially affect normal plant growth and development, as well as yield and quality loss. To counteract alkaline stress, plants have developed a range of defense strategies, enabling them to adapt and thrive in challenging environments. These defense mechanisms operate at multiple levels such as morphological, physiological, biochemical, and molecular. The continuous advancement of genetic engineering has enabled significant breakthroughs in enhancing plant alkali resistance through human intervention. This research provides a scientific basis for crop production and ecological environment construction, and also promotes the effective development and utilization of saline-alkali lands, improving the sustainability of agricultural production. Full article

The (MTHFR) C677T gene polymorphism is associated with neurological disorders and schizophrenia. Patients diagnosed with schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder and controls (n 134) had data collected for risk factors, molecular and neuro-sensory variables, symptoms, and functional outcomes. Promising gene variant-related predictive biomarkers were identified for diagnosis by Receiver Operating Characteristics and for illness duration by linear regression. These were then analyzed using Spearman’s correlation in relation to the duration of illness. Significant correlations were ranked by strength and plotted on graphs for each MTHFR C677T variant. Homozygous MTHFR 677 TT carriers displayed a mid-illness switch to depression, with suicidality and a late-phase shift from lower to higher methylation, with activated psychosis symptoms. MTHFR 677 CC variant carriers displayed significant premorbid correlates for family history, developmental disorder, learning disorder, and head injury. These findings align with those of low methylation, oxidative stress, multiple neuro-sensory processing deficits, and disability outcomes. Heterozygous MTHFR 677 CT carriers displayed multiple shifts in mood and methylation with multiple adverse outcomes. The graphically presented ranked biomarker correlates for illness duration allow a perspective of psychosis development across gene variants, with the potential for phase of illness monitoring and new therapeutic insights to prevent or delay psychosis and its adverse outcomes. Full article