Significant changes to daily life and educational routines due to the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in changes in social interactions and might have contributed to an increase in screen-based ...activities, loneliness, and mental health issues among adolescents. Two years after the pandemic outbreak, the present study examined the relationships between time spent using digital technology (DT), loneliness and well-being among three cohorts of adolescents in Croatia. A moderated mediation model of relationship between time spent using DT and well-being was tested, with loneliness as a potential mediator and gender as a moderator. A nationally representative sample included 3706 11-year-olds, 3866 13-year-olds and 8815 17-year-olds. The study was conducted in lower and upper secondary schools in the spring of 2022. The questionnaire contained a single item self-report measure of time spent using DT and loneliness, while the adapted WHO-5 was used for measuring adolescents’ well-being. Results indicated that time spent using DT was positively associated with loneliness and negatively associated with well-being. Loneliness mediated the relationship between time spent using DT and well-being in all cohorts. This mediation was moderated by gender in the group of 11-year-olds only. Gender moderated the direct effect on well-being among 11- and 13-year-olds. Effects were stronger among girls and younger participants. The results are discussed in light of the displacement hypothesis, which posits that negative effects on well-being are a consequence of the replacement of in-person activities with screen-based activities.
Human atrial electrophysiology exhibits high inter-subject variability in both sinus rhythm (SR) and chronic atrial fibrillation (cAF) patients. Variability is however rarely investigated in ...experimental and theoretical electrophysiological studies, thus hampering the understanding of its underlying causes but also its implications in explaining differences in the response to disease and treatment. In our study, we aim at investigating the ability of populations of human atrial cell models to capture the inter-subject variability in action potential (AP) recorded in 363 patients both under SR and cAF conditions.
Human AP recordings in atrial trabeculae (n = 469) from SR and cAF patients were used to calibrate populations of computational SR and cAF atrial AP models. Three populations of over 2000 sampled models were generated, based on three different human atrial AP models. Experimental calibration selected populations of AP models yielding AP with morphology and duration in range with experimental recordings. Populations using the three original models can mimic variability in experimental AP in both SR and cAF, with median conductance values in SR for most ionic currents deviating less than 30% from their original peak values. All cAF populations show similar variations in G(K1), G(Kur) and G(to), consistent with AF-related remodeling as reported in experiments. In all SR and cAF model populations, inter-subject variability in I(K1) and I(NaK) underlies variability in APD90, variability in I(Kur), I(CaL) and I(NaK) modulates variability in APD50 and combined variability in Ito and I(Kur) determines variability in APD20. The large variability in human atrial AP triangulation is mostly determined by I(K1) and either I(NaK) or I(NaCa) depending on the model.
Experimentally-calibrated human atrial AP models populations mimic AP variability in SR and cAF patient recordings, and identify potential ionic determinants of inter-subject variability in human atrial AP duration and morphology in SR versus cAF.
Significant changes to daily life and educational routines due to the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in changes in social interactions and might have contributed to an increase in screen-based ...activities, loneliness, and mental health issues among adolescents. Two years after the pandemic outbreak, the present study examined the relationships between time spent using digital technology (DT), loneliness and well-being among three cohorts of adolescents in Croatia. A moderated mediation model of relationship between time spent using DT and well-being was tested, with loneliness as a potential mediator and gender as a moderator. A nationally representative sample included 3706 11-year-olds, 3866 13-year-olds and 8815 17-year-olds. The study was conducted in lower and upper secondary schools in the spring of 2022. The questionnaire contained a single item self-report measure of time spent using DT and loneliness, while the adapted WHO-5 was used for measuring adolescents’ well-being. Results indicated that time spent using DT was positively associated with loneliness and negatively associated with well-being. Loneliness mediated the relationship between time spent using DT and well-being in all cohorts. This mediation was moderated by gender in the group of 11-year-olds only. Gender moderated the direct effect on well-being among 11- and 13-year-olds. Effects were stronger among girls and younger participants. The results are discussed in light of the displacement hypothesis, which posits that negative effects on well-being are a consequence of the replacement of in-person activities with screen-based activities.
(1) Background: Vitamin D levels in patients remain inadequately understood, with research yielding inconsistent findings. Breast cancer patients, particularly due to oncological therapies, face an ...increased risk of osteopenia, which can be exacerbated by a vitamin D deficiency. (2) Methods: The prospective observational "BEGYN-1" study assessed serum 25(OH)D levels at baseline and quarterly thereafter. Clinical, pathological, nutritional, vitamin supplementation, and lifestyle data were recorded. (3) Results: Before treatment, 68.5% of patients were vitamin D deficient (<30 ng/mL), with 4.6% experiencing severe deficiency (<10 ng/mL). The median baseline 25(OH)D levels were 24 ng/mL (range: 4.8 to 64.7 ng/mL). Throughout the study, the median vitamin D levels increased to 48 ng/mL (range: 22.0 to 76.7 ng/mL). Before diagnosis, 16.7% received vitamin D substitution, and 97.8% received vitamin D substitution throughout the year with a median weekly dose of 20,000 IU. It took at least three quarterly assessments for 95% of patients to reach the normal range. A multiple GEE analysis identified associations between 25(OH)D levels and supplementation, season, age, VLDL, magnesium levels, and endocrine therapy. (4) Conclusions: Physicians should monitor 25(OH)D levels before, during, and after oncological therapy to prevent vitamin D deficiency and to adjust substitution individually. While variables such as seasons, age, VLDL, magnesium, diet, and oncological interventions affect 25(OH)D levels, supplementation has the greatest impact.
(1) Background: Vitamin D plays an important role in many types of cancer. It was the aim of this study to analyze serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) levels in newly diagnosed breast cancer ...patients, and the association with prognostic and lifestyle factors. (2) Methods: 110 non-metastatic breast cancer patients were included in the prospective observational "BEGYN" study at Saarland University Medical Center between September 2019 and January 2021. At the initiation visit, serum 25(OH)D levels were measured. Clinicopathological data on prognosis, nutrition, and lifestyle were extracted from data files and obtained using a questionnaire. (3) Results: Median serum 25(OH)D in breast cancer patients was 24 ng/mL (range 5-65 ng/mL), with 64.8% of patients being vitamin D deficient. 25(OH)D was higher among patients that reported the use of vitamin D supplements (43 ng/mL versus 22 ng/mL;
< 0.001), and in summer compared to other seasons (
= 0.03). Patients with moderate vitamin D deficiency were less likely to have triple negative breast cancer (
= 0.047). (4) Conclusions: Routinely measured vitamin D deficiency is common in breast cancer patients and needs to be detected and treated. However, our results do not support the hypothesis that vitamin D deficiency may be a main prognostic factor for breast cancer.
Background
Breast cancer is the most frequent cancer in women. Reduced physical activity and overweight are associated with poor prognosis. Breast cancer patients have a high risk to gain weight, ...lose muscle mass and reduce physical activity during therapy. Concepts are urgently needed to motivate patients to engage in physical activity.
Methods
110 non-metastatic breast cancer patients were included in the prospective observational BEGYN-1 study. Physiological parameters and body composition were measured before the start of therapy and then quarterly for one year. Patients used a fitness tracker and documented their physical activity in a diary throughout the study.
Results
Although the patients were not offered any guided exercise, and despite the restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic, they increased their physical activity (metabolic equivalent of task (MET) -minutes): p<0.001), physical fitness (decreasing resting heart rate: p=0.001) and did not gain weight (median - 0.4kg) over the course of the study.
Conclusion
Improved awareness of physical activity is associated with an increase in physical activity, fitness, and a stable weight during the first year of therapy in breast cancer patients. Counselling at diagnosis should motivate patients to engage in physical activity, wear a fitness tracker and document activities.
In Hochschullernwerkstätten sollten Demokratie und Partizipation nicht nur ein Konzept sein, sondern gelebte Realität. Doch die Forschung zeigt eine Kluft zwischen Theorie und Praxis. Angesichts ...globaler Herausforderungen gewinnt Demokratiebildung aber immer mehr an Bedeutung. Es geht um ein demokratisches Verständnis als Lebensweise, verwurzelt in Bildungseinrichtungen. Wie können Hochschulen demokratische Strukturen fördern? Dieser Band präsentiert Diskussionen und Forschungsergebnisse der 16. Internationalen Tagung der Hochschullernwerkstätten und spiegelt die Vielfalt und Breite der untersuchten Themen dieser Debatte. (DIPF/Orig.)
(1) Background: The role of selenium in cancer biology remains poorly understood. Our aim was to study the course of selenium serum levels and the use of selenium supplements during breast cancer ...therapy. (2) Methods: Serum selenium levels, clinical–pathological data, selenium supplementation, and lifestyle factors were monitored quarterly over one year. (3) Results: A total of 110 non-metastatic breast cancer patients were enrolled in the prospective observational “BEGYN-1” study. At baseline, 2.9% of patients were selenium-deficient (<50 ng/mL), 1.9% were overdosed (>120 ng/mL), and 6.4% received substitution. The median selenium level was 81.5 ng/mL and ranged between 78.7 and 84.5 ng/mL within the year. A total of 25.3% of the patients received supplementation, resulting in significantly higher selenium levels (p < 0.05). A total of 8.7–28.6% of the patients using supplements were overdosed. Selenium levels strongly correlated with mushroom consumption (p = 0.003), but no association was found with therapy or clinical characteristics. (4) Conclusions: Although selenium deficiency is rare, serum selenium levels should be assessed in breast cancer patients. Mushrooms and nuts should be preferred over supplements to correct selenium deficiency. Ruling out selenium deficiency helps prevent the risk of selenosis and avoid unnecessary, costly supplementation in patients who are often financially burdened due to their disease.
Insufficient dietary intake of micronutHents, known as ＂hidden hunger＂, is a devastating global burden, affecting two billion people. Deficiency of folates （vitamin B9）, which are known to play a ...central role in Cl metabolism, causes birth defects in at least a quarter million people annually. Biofortification to enhance the level of naturally occurring folates in crop plants, proves to be an efficient and cost-effective tool in fighting folate deficiency. Previously, introduction of folate biosynthesis genes GTPCHI andADCS, proven to be a successful biofortification strategy in rice and tomato, turned out to be insufficient to adequately increase folate levels in potato tubers. Here, we provide a proof of concept that additional introduction of HPPK/DHPS and/or FPGS, downstream genes in mitochonddal folate biosynthesis, enables augmenta- tion of folates to satisfactory levels （12-fold） and ensures folate stability upon long-term storage of tubers. In conclusion, this engineering strategy can serve as a model in the creation of folate-accumulating potato cultivars, readily applicable in potato-consuming populations suffedng from folate deficiency.
Ex vivo recorded action potentials (APs) in human right atrial tissue from patients in sinus rhythm (SR) or atrial fibrillation (AF) display a characteristic spike-and-dome or triangular shape, ...respectively, but variability is huge within each rhythm group. The aim of our study was to apply the machine-learning algorithm ranking instances by maximizing the area under the ROC curve (RIMARC) to a large data set of 480 APs combined with retrospectively collected general clinical parameters and to test whether the rules learned by the RIMARC algorithm can be used for accurately classifying the preoperative rhythm status. APs were included from 221 SR and 158 AF patients. During a learning phase, the RIMARC algorithm established a ranking order of 62 features by predictive value for SR or AF. The model was then challenged with an additional test set of features from 28 patients in whom rhythm status was blinded. The accuracy of the risk prediction for AF by the model was very good (0.93) when all features were used. Without the seven AP features, accuracy still reached 0.71. In conclusion, we have shown that training the machine-learning algorithm RIMARC with an experimental and clinical data set allows predicting a classification in a test data set with high accuracy. In a clinical setting, this approach may prove useful for finding hypothesis-generating associations between different parameters.
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