Search Results (21,124)

Background: Lactate-acclimated MSTO-211HAcT and H2452AcT malignant mesothelioma (MM) cells were previously found to tolerate gemcitabine more readily than their parental cells while remaining sensitive to apigenin. We examined whether changes in glucose metabolism and HKII contribute to the apigenin response. Methods: Apigenin was evaluated in monolayer and spheroid cultures and in a xenograft model; HKII was also silenced in the acclimated cells. Results: Apigenin reduced cell viability, p-AKT (Ser473), glycolysis-associated proteins including HKII, and mitochondrial electron transport chain proteins, while increasing p53 and markers of cell death. Tumor growth and selected metabolic proteins were reduced in the xenograft model. HKII silencing reduced cell viability and glucose utilization, lowered cellular ATP, altered mitochondrial membrane potential, and increased markers of apoptosis and necroptosis. Conclusions: HKII-associated metabolism contributes to survival of lactate-acclimated MM cells, and apigenin affects this metabolic phenotype. Direct targeting of HKII by apigenin and the complete mitochondrial apoptotic pathway require further study. Full article

Background/Objectives: Preservation of anterograde ejaculation after transurethral incision for primary bladder neck obstruction (PBNO) has traditionally been assessed with unvalidated binary self-report. We prospectively evaluated ejaculatory and erectile function after the ZANCLE (“Z” Anatomical Needle Cut Leads Ejaculation) technique using two validated patient-reported outcome instruments, the Male Sexual Health Questionnaire–Ejaculatory Dysfunction Short Form (MSHQ-EjD-SF) and the International Index of Erectile Function-5 (IIEF-5). Methods: Forty consecutive patients undergoing ZANCLE for PBNO at a single institution were prospectively enrolled between June 2024 and July 2025. MSHQ-EjD-SF (ejaculatory function domain, items for force/volume/frequency, independent bother item) and IIEF-5 were administered at baseline and at 1, 6, and 12 months postoperatively, together with the binary anterograde-ejaculation question used in the parent cohort. Voiding parameters (Qmax, IPSS, PVR) are not described here, as they have already been reported for this technique by our group in a previously published series. Results: Median age was 41 years (IQR 35–55). The MSHQ-EjD-SF function domain score was unchanged from baseline to 12 months (10.8 ± 1.3 vs. 11.0 ± 1.1, Δ+0.2, p = 0.52), while the bother item improved significantly (1.1 ± 0.9 vs. 0.5 ± 0.6, Δ−0.6, p = 0.011). IIEF-5 total score remained stable throughout follow-up (20.1 ± 3.0 vs. 20.5 ± 2.8 at 12 months, Δ+0.4, p = 0.58). Anterograde ejaculation was preserved by binary self-report in 100% of evaluable patients at every postoperative timepoint. Conclusions: Validated instruments confirm, with greater granularity than binary self-report, that the ZANCLE technique preserves ejaculatory function domain scores and erectile function while reducing ejaculation-related bother. These preliminary findings support incorporation of MSHQ-EjD-SF and IIEF-5 into future prospective evaluations of ejaculation-sparing bladder neck surgery. Full article

Background/Objectives: Parental depressive symptoms are consistently associated with children’s emotional and behavioral functioning, yet research has predominantly emphasized parent-to-child associations. Less is known about child-to-parent pathways and reciprocal processes, particularly across socioeconomic contexts. This study examined within-person reciprocal associations between parental depressive symptoms and children’s emotional and behavioral functioning across Grades 3–5 and tested whether these associations differed by household income status. Methods: Data were drawn from 5320 children (Mage = 9.10 years at Grade 3) in the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Kindergarten Class of 2010–11 (ECLS-K:2011), a nationally representative U.S. longitudinal study. Parental depressive symptoms and teacher-rated internalizing and externalizing behaviors were assessed annually. Random-intercept cross-lagged panel models (RI-CLPMs) examined within-person reciprocal associations, and multigroup RI-CLPMs tested income-group differences. Results: In the overall sample, parental depressive symptoms did not significantly predict subsequent internalizing or externalizing behaviors, whereas both child behaviors predicted subsequent parental depressive symptoms. Both the parent-to-child and child-to-parent pathways for internalizing behaviors differed significantly by household income status. Among lower-income families, parental depressive symptoms and children’s internalizing behaviors were reciprocally associated, whereas neither direction was significant among relatively higher-income families. In contrast, the cross-lagged associations for externalizing behaviors did not differ by household income status. Conclusions: Within-person reciprocal associations between parental depressive symptoms and children’s internalizing behaviors emerged among lower-income families but not among relatively higher-income families, suggesting that parent–child mental health processes may be more interconnected under socioeconomic disadvantage. Full article

Background and Clinical Significance: Cardiofaciocutaneous syndrome (CFC) is a rare autosomal dominant RASopathy characterized by craniofacial dysmorphism, congenital heart defects, cutaneous abnormalities, growth impairment, and neurodevelopmental delay. Pathogenic variants in KRAS account for a minority of cases and define cardiofaciocutaneous syndrome type 2 (CFC2). Establishing a molecular diagnosis is often challenging because of the substantial clinical overlap among RASopathies, including Noonan and Costello syndromes. Case Presentation: We describe a one-year-old boy presenting with macrocephaly, ventriculomegaly, hypotonia, developmental delay, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, gastroesophageal reflux, and mild dermatological abnormalities. To clarify the diagnosis, a custom next-generation sequencing panel targeting RASopathy-associated genes was performed. Genetic analysis identified a heterozygous KRAS variant, NM_033360.4:c.101C>G, p.(Pro34Arg), which was confirmed by Sanger sequencing and shown to have arisen de novo through parental testing. Additional variants of uncertain significance were detected in ABCC9, CACNA1G, and DES; however, these were considered unlikely to account for the phenotype because of limited clinical concordance and current ACMG/AMP classification. The KRAS variant was classified as pathogenic based on its de novo occurrence, absence from population databases, localization within a critical functional domain, supportive computational evidence, and previously reported pathogenic substitutions affecting the same residue. Conclusions: This case provides additional evidence supporting the pathogenicity of KRAS p.(Pro34Arg), a variant reported only rarely in association with CFC. The observed phenotype further expands the clinical spectrum of KRAS-associated CFC and highlights the value of comprehensive molecular testing for the differential diagnosis of RASopathies and the refinement of genotype–phenotype correlations. Full article

Background/Objectives: Early feeding experiences and non-nutritive sucking habits coexist with the development of orofacial functions and occlusion. This study compared the duration of breastfeeding, bottle feeding, and mixed feeding, as well as parent-reported orofacial outcomes in preterm- and term-born children, and exploratorily assessed associations among these variables. Methods: A cross-sectional parent/caregiver survey used open convenience recruitment in online prematurity-related groups. The main comparison included 108 children (88 preterm and 20 term). Unambiguous duration records for all three feeding modes were available for 92 children and were analyzed as separate quantitative variables. Results: Among these 92 children, median breastfeeding duration was 6 months (IQR 2–12), bottle-feeding duration was 0 months (IQR 0–12), and mixed-feeding duration was 0 months (IQR 0–5). No preterm–term differences were found for breastfeeding (p = 0.090), bottle feeding (p = 0.357), or mixed feeding (p = 0.586). Each additional 12 months of pacifier use was associated with higher odds of a parent-reported perioral/smile abnormality (aOR = 2.29; 95% CI 1.25–4.19; p = 0.007; q = 0.028). Conclusions: Longer reported pacifier use was associated with a broad parental perception of smile abnormality after FDR correction; causality and clinical significance cannot be established. The findings require confirmation using clinically verified perinatal data and standardized orofacial assessment. Full article

Preschoolers’ externalizing problem behaviors have a profound negative impact on their social adjustment, both concurrently and in the future. Household chaos is a key environmental risk factor; however, the mechanisms underlying this link require further investigation. The current study aimed to examine associations between household chaos and externalizing problem behaviors in preschool children and the roles of callous–unemotional traits and maternal mindful parenting. The participants were 615 children aged 3–7 years (341 boys and 274 girls) and their mothers from Guangdong, China. Data on household chaos, maternal mindful parenting, children’s callous–unemotional traits, and externalizing problem behaviors were collected using mother-reported questionnaires. Results indicated that household chaos was significantly and positively related to externalizing problem behaviors in young children, with callous–unemotional traits acting as a mediator. Maternal mindful parenting was also found to moderate the association between callous–unemotional traits and externalizing problem behaviors. These findings emphasize the necessity of optimizing the home environment and providing mindful parenting training in preventing and intervening in early childhood socioemotional and behavioral problems. Full article

Background: Fever and its related symptoms are common reasons for pediatric emergency department (ED) visits. Parents are often concerned about fever in children, and a frequent reason for ED visits is the persistence of fever despite the administration of antipyretics at home. It is hypothesized that caregivers often administer incorrect doses of acetaminophen and ibuprofen. Objective: To assess caregivers’ dosing practices in children with fever by evaluating the accuracy of acetaminophen and ibuprofen dosing and to identify factors associated with inaccurate dosing in Saudi Arabia. Methodology: A cross-sectional survey was conducted over a six-month period from 1 January 2022 to 30 June 2022 in the emergency department. We included caregivers of children under 14 who received a quantifiable dose of acetaminophen or ibuprofen for fever. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire. Multivariable regression analysis was utilized to identify factors associated with inaccurate dosing. Results: A total of 330 caregivers of children were included in the study. The caregivers’ ages ranged from 18 to 60 years, with a mean age of 32.3 ± 6.4. Of these, 148 (44.8%) had university-level education or higher, while 33 (10%) had education below high school level. Only 81 caregivers (24.5%) administered the correct dose of medication. In contrast, 118 (35.8%) gave subtherapeutic doses, 40 (12.1%) administered higher-than-recommended doses, and 91 (27.6%) were unsure about the correct dose. Multivariable regression indicated that caregivers with education below high school (aOR = 2.65; 95% CI: 1.30–5.40 for low dose) and those making self-directed dosing decisions (aOR = 2.10; 95% CI: 1.15–3.85 for low dose) were significantly associated with incorrect dosing. Conclusions: The study indicates that approximately three-quarters of caregivers either administered incorrect doses of acetaminophen or ibuprofen or were unsure of the correct dose. Given that 93% of caregivers were unaware of medication concentrations, targeted educational interventions are required to improve dosing accuracy. Full article

Background: In children with residual obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) despite combined adenotonsillectomy (TA) and semi-rapid maxillary expansion (SRME), the optimal further management remains unclear. This study evaluated the effect of a 12-month programme of orofacial myofunctional therapy (OMFT) on residual OSA in this population. Materials and Methods: In this retrospective cohort study, 80 children (aged 7–9 years) with polysomnography-confirmed residual OSA (respiratory disturbance index [RDI] ≥ 1 event/h) after combined TA and SRME were followed for 12 months. Forty-one children completed a 12-month course of OMFT, and 39 did not, due to compliance concerns, cost/access barriers, or parental preference. RDI at 12-month follow-up (RDIfinal) was compared between groups by t-test and by a covariate-adjusted general linear model. Results: Mean baseline RDI did not differ between groups (p = 0.21). At follow-up, mean RDIfinal was 0.49 events/hour in the OMT group versus 5.26 in controls (p < 0.001; Cohen’s d = 3.64), a difference that persisted after adjustment for treatment order, sex, age, race, and BMI (p < 0.001). Conclusions: A 12-month OMT programme was associated with near-normal respiratory indices in children with residual OSA after combined TA and SRME, while untreated residual OSA showed mild deterioration. Given the non-randomised design, this should be interpreted as a strong association rather than a confirmed causal effect, and a randomised trial is warranted. Full article

In recent decades, changing expectations of fatherhood have increasingly emphasized emotional closeness, active involvement in childcare, and shared parental responsibilities. While religiosity is often associated with traditional gender roles, previous research also suggests that it may foster family-centeredness and paternal commitment. Protestant pastors occupy a unique position at the intersection of these influences, as they must reconcile contemporary fatherhood ideals with religious family norms and the specific demands of pastoral ministry. This study examines how Protestant pastors in Hungary understand and practice fatherhood and how they balance parental and professional responsibilities. The analysis is based on semi-structured interviews. Our findings indicate that the image of the pastor-father as a distant authority figure has largely been replaced by an ideal of emotional availability and active presence in children’s lives. However, this involvement takes different forms. Three ideal types emerged from the interviews: egalitarian involved fatherhood, emotionally involved fatherhood, and neotraditional fatherhood. Across all three types, elements of both traditional and contemporary fatherhood were present. Although many fathers participated actively in childcare, the primary responsibility for organizing family life and managing its mental load generally remained with mothers. The findings suggest that pastors do not simply adopt either traditional or modern fatherhood models. Rather, they combine these in diverse ways shaped simultaneously by contemporary parental norms, religious family ideals, and the expectations associated with the pastoral vocation. Full article

Domestic Abuse (DA) cases perpetrated by family members account for a substantial proportion of reported DA cases, yet responses within policing and support services remain largely informed by evidence derived from Intimate Partner Violence (IPV). Although familial DA includes a range of family relationships, including parent, child, sibling, it remains unclear whether these cases present differently to IPV and therefore require different responses. This study examined routinely collected police data from 122,276 DA incidents reported to a UK police force between April 2019 and March 2023. Perpetrator, victim, offence, risk, and case outcome characteristics were examined for parent-, child-, and sibling-perpetrated DA, with each subgroup compared separately with cases of IPV. Statistically significant differences were identified across all familial perpetrator groups; however, the magnitude and pattern of these differences varied considerably. When compared with the IPV subsample child-perpetrated DA demonstrated the greatest differentiation across perpetrator, victim, offence, and risk characteristics, whereas parent- and sibling-perpetrated DA showed comparatively modest divergence. These findings suggest familial DA should not be treated as a single category and that current DA responses, including the routine use of IPV-informed risk assessments for non-IPV cases, may not be equally appropriate across all forms of familial DA. Full article

Increasing temperatures and drought in Mediterranean wine-growing regions are causing a decoupling between technological and phenolic maturity, as well as a decrease in yield. In this context, the development of new genotypes adapted to these adverse conditions is a key strategy for maintaining the sustainability of viticulture. This study characterises MS104, a novel [Monastrell × Syrah] grapevine genotype, by comparing it with its parental varieties under both controlled irrigation and rainfed conditions in a warm Mediterranean environment. The effect of genotype, year, and irrigation treatment on agronomic, phenological, productivity, and grape quality data was evaluated. MS104 combined an early harvest date, similar to that of Syrah, with an intermediate response to water stress under rainfed conditions, regulated mainly by a greater decrease in stomatal conductance and photosynthetic activity compared to its parents. In addition, under rainfed conditions, it maintained an adequate yield, lower must pH values, higher total acidity and phenolic compound content than its parents, and returned a low °Baumé value, ideal for the production of low-alcohol wines. In conclusion, MS104 is a promising tool for mitigating climate change impacts in warm Mediterranean regions, such as the Region of Murcia in southeastern Spain. Full article

We present an open, scripted reconstruction pipeline for the ADRON-55 ionization calorimeter at the Tien Shan station (3340 m a.s.l.) and apply it to $2.9\times {10}^5$ events from 2021 and 2023. It assembles overlapping chamber sections, applies data-driven integrity and good-run selection (16.3% flagged), and fits three-dimensional directions from hadron-block planes with material-based weights. Plane occupancy falls with depth to 0.75 (X) and 0.61 (Y) at the deepest plane of each projection, while per-channel deposition is nearly uniform across X planes, revealing a projection-dependent efficiency offset whose size, and for the deepest plane pair whose sign, depend on the amplitude threshold. One-pitch lateral profiles resolve a narrower gamma-block component, RMS $0.638\pm 0.016$ against $0.727\pm 0.007$ m; the gamma figure is an upper limit, since the events carrying half its amplitude clip the digitizer, and without them it is 0.507 m. For 990 single tracks with three active planes in each projection, the azimuthal flatness statistic improves from ${\chi }^2/\mathrm{ndf}\approx 1.3\times {10}^3$ to 15.8 after assembly, seeding, and alignment. We then locate the residual: in four fifths of that sample a plane is lit edge to edge and carries no core, so its centroid reports the aperture rather than the particle, and the alignment maps those events onto a zero-slope line that pins their azimuth to the detector axes. Removing them leaves ${\chi }^2/\mathrm{ndf}=2.0$, and 1.2 on events held out of a re-derived alignment; a detector-level simulation carrying the measured channel efficiencies then reproduces that sub-sample with an isotropic ${\cos }^{3.5}\theta$ parent. The code and diagnostics are released, making the figures reproducible from raw data. Full article

Social media offers evidence of how regenerated places are discussed, but observed differences may reflect platform composition and measurement choices as well as local regeneration histories. This study examines these competing explanations through Baoweili and Nanyueli in Hengyang, China. We analyze 48,934 public comments from Bilibili, Douyin, Kuaishou, Weibo, and Xiaohongshu using lexical sentiment scores, eight place-related keyword proxies, semantic networks, and Douyin location labels. Platform-standardized comparisons and parent-post cluster resampling complement the original pooled analysis. Two independent coders reviewed stratified samples of 240 screening decisions and 400 comments for sentiment and thematic indicators. Their agreement was substantial, but machine recognition of negative sentiment and several rare positive thematic labels was weak. Memory-language hits remained relatively more frequent in Baoweili and functional hits in Nanyueli after excluding Bilibili, although both contrasts were uncertain in the corrected common-window analysis. Baoweili retained more network nodes and greater modularity under platform- and size-matched sampling. The ordering of mean sentiment changed under a linguistic-rule sensitivity specification, and a density advantage for Nanyueli was not stable after platform matching. Location-label missingness constrained geographical comparisons. The findings support a bounded comparison of digital expressions, not a causal ranking of regeneration models or a validated measure of residents’ sense of place. Full article

Background/Objectives. The association between child stress and parental stress has been well studied; however, the factors modifying this relationship have not been sufficiently examined. The current study investigates the roles of coping and parenting behavior in the relationship between parental and child stress based on a conceptual framework that unites different parental characteristics in explaining child stress. Methods. The study involved 271 mothers of preschoolers, who completed the following questionnaires: the Perceived Stress Scale, the Perceived Stress Scale for Children, the Alabama Parenting Questionnaire, and the Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced Questionnaire. Results. Parental stress is related positively to avoidant coping and negatively to positive reframing coping strategies. Different coping strategies, in turn, have significant associations with parenting behavior. Positive reframing relates negatively to punishment and inconsistent discipline, while avoidance has positive associations with ineffective parenting strategies, which in turn are linked with higher child stress. Punishment and inconsistent discipline coupled together are significantly and positively related to child stress. Conclusions. The current study clarified the association between parental and child stress, exploring the role of coping and parenting behavior. Positive reframing was associated with more favorable parenting and child-stress outcomes, while avoidant coping and dysfunctional parenting behavior were related to higher child stress. The findings demonstrate the importance of targeted interventions that can help mitigate the negative effects of stress on children and improve overall family well-being. Full article

This study investigated the genetics of resistance to Pepper yellow leaf curl virus (PepYLCTHV) in advanced lines of chili peppers (Capsicum annuum) and generated new chili pepper populations resistant to PepYLCTHV disease. Experiments were conducted in three phases between May 2020 and October 2024 at three locations in Thailand. Three crosses were developed, involving PepYLCTHV-resistant (PEP6) and susceptible Jindanil 80 (JD), PP0437-7506, and Yodsonkeam 80 (YS) parents; PEP 6 was used as a common male parent. The segregation of resistant and susceptible plants was studied in F₂, F₃ and F₅ generations, and yield components of selected F₅ lines were recorded and analyzed. The parental line PEP6 exhibited a segregation ratio of resistant (R) to susceptible (S) plant (1R:1.5S), while PP0437-7506 fit a 1R:15S ratio. The F₁ generations were completely susceptible, confirming that resistance is a recessive trait. The resistant-to-susceptible ratio from F₂ to F₅ generations was increased, suggesting that advanced-generation selection for resistance is effective. The population of YS/PEP6 showed an increase in resistance across generations, with ratios changing from 1R:15S in the F₂ to 1R:1S in the F₅. These results suggest that resistance to PepYLCTHV was under the control of multiple recessive genes. Evaluations of new breeding lines regarding disease severity and index (DI%) confirmed that the resistant parent PEP6 had low disease severity (1.1) and DI% (22%). In contrast, commercial and local varieties were highly susceptible. Two promising F₅ lines, PF2 and PF8, derived from PEP6 developed during this study, displayed high levels of resistance with low DI% values of 24.67% and 18.67%, respectively. These lines are improved sources of PepYLCTHV-resistant chili pepper for further evaluation and direct release as PepYLCTHV disease-resistant cultivars in the Thai market segment and could be used as an improved source of resistance for breeding programs. Full article