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Explores how the field of paleoanthropology enables insights into some of the world's leading evolutionary questions, exploring such topics as the life cycles of ancient people, the origins of social nature, and the common traits between modern humans and Neanderthals.

Lung cancer is one of the common cancers and the leading cause of death. Tremendous caregiving burden of informal caregivers of lung cancer causes psychological disorders, such as anxiety and depression. Interventions for informal caregivers of patients with lung cancer to improve their psychological health, which ultimately leads to patients' positive health outcomes, are crucial. A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted to: 1) evaluate the effect of non-pharmacological interventions on the outcomes of depression and anxiety for lung cancer patients' informal caregivers; and 2) compare the effects of interventions with differing characteristics (i.e. intervention types, mode of contact, and group versus individual delivery). Four databases were searched to identify relevant studies. Inclusion criteria for the articles were peer-reviewed non-pharmacological intervention studies on depression and anxiety in lung cancer patients' informal caregivers published between January 2010 and April 2022. Systematic review procedures were followed. Data analysis of related studies was conducted using the Review Manager Version 5.4 software. Intervention effect sizes and studies' heterogeneity were calculated. Eight studies from our search were eligible for inclusion. Regarding total effect for the caregivers' levels of anxiety and depression, results revealed evidence for significant moderate effects of intervention on anxiety (SMD -0.44; 95% CI, -0.67, -0.21; p = 0.0002) and depression (SMD -0.46; 95% CI, -0.74, -0.18; p = 0.001). Subgroup analyses for both anxiety and depression of informal caregivers revealed moderate to high significant effects for specific intervention types (cognitive behavioral and mindfulness combined with psycho-education interventions), mode of contact (telephone-based interventions), and group versus individual delivery. This review provides evidence that cognitive behavioral and mindfulness-based, telephone-based, individual or group-based interventions were effective for informal caregivers of lung cancer patients. Further research is needed to develop the most effective intervention contents and delivery methods across informal caregivers with larger sample size in randomized controlled trials.

There are few reports on head-to-head comparisons of electrocardiogram (ECG) monitoring between adhesive single-lead and Holter devices for arrhythmias other than atrial fibrillation (AF). This study aimed to compare 24 h ECG monitoring between the two devices in patients with general arrhythmia. Twenty-nine non-AF patients with a workup of pre-diagnosed arrhythmias or suspicious arrhythmic episodes were evaluated. Each participant wore both devices simultaneously, and the cardiac rhythm was monitored for 24 h. Selective ECG parameters were compared between the two devices. Two cardiologists independently compared the diagnoses of each device. The two most frequent monitoring indications were workup of premature atrial contractions (41.4%) and suspicious arrhythmia-related symptoms (37.9%). The single-lead device had a higher noise burden than the Holter device (0.04 ± 0.05% vs. 0.01 ± 0.01%, p = 0.024). The number of total QRS complexes, ventricular ectopic beats, and supraventricular ectopic beats showed an excellent degree of agreement between the two devices (intraclass correlation coefficients = 0.991, 1.000, and 0.987, respectively). In addition, the minimum/average/maximum heart rates showed an excellent degree of agreement. The two cardiologists made coherent diagnoses for all 29 participants using both monitoring methods. In conclusion, the single-lead adhesive device could be an acceptable alternative for ambulatory ECG monitoring in patients with general arrhythmia.

This study examines related literature to propose a model based on artificial intelligence (AI), that can assist in the diagnosis of depressive disorder. Depressive disorder can be diagnosed through a self-report questionnaire, but it is necessary to check the mood and confirm the consistency of subjective and objective descriptions. Smartphone-based assistance in diagnosing depressive disorders can quickly lead to their identification and provide data for intervention provision. Through fast region-based convolutional neural networks (R-CNN), a deep learning method that recognizes vector-based information, a model to assist in the diagnosis of depressive disorder can be devised by checking the position change of the eyes and lips, and guessing emotions based on accumulated photos of the participants who will repeatedly participate in the diagnosis of depressive disorder.

There is insufficient evidence for the use of single-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) monitoring with an adhesive patch-type device (APD) over an extended period compared to that of the 24-hour Holter test for atrial fibrillation (AF) detection. In this paper, we aimed to compare AF detection by the 24-hour Holter test and 72-hour single-lead ECG monitoring using an APD among patients with AF. This was a prospective, single-center cohort study. A total of 210 patients with AF with clinical indications for the Holter test at cardiology outpatient clinics were enrolled in the study. The study participants were equipped with both the Holter device and APD for the first 24 hours. Subsequently, only the APD continued ECG monitoring for an additional 48 hours. AF detection during the first 24 hours was compared between the two devices. The diagnostic benefits of extended monitoring using the APD were evaluated. A total of 200 patients (mean age 60 years; n=141, 70.5% male; and n=59, 29.5% female) completed 72-hour ECG monitoring with the APD. During the first 24 hours, both monitoring methods detected AF in the same 40/200 (20%) patients (including 20 patients each with paroxysmal and persistent AF). Compared to the 24-hour Holter test, the APD increased the AF detection rate by 1.5-fold (58/200; 29%) and 1.6-fold (64/200; 32%) with 48- and 72-hour monitoring, respectively. With the APD, the number of newly discovered patients with paroxysmal AF was 20/44 (45.5%), 18/44 (40.9%), and 6/44 (13.6%) at 24-, 48-, and 72-hour monitoring, respectively. Compared with 24-hour Holter monitoring, 72-hour monitoring with the APD increased the detection rate of paroxysmal AF by 2.2-fold (44/20). Compared to the 24-hour Holter test, AF detection could be improved with 72-hour single-lead ECG monitoring with the APD.

Background and Objectives: Few comparative studies have evaluated wearable single-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) devices and standard multi-lead ECG devices during exercise testing. This study aimed to validate the accuracy of a wearable single-lead ECG monitor for recording heart rate (HR) metrics during graded exercise tests (GXTs). Methods: A cohort of 50 patients at a tertiary hospital underwent GXT while simultaneously being equipped with wearable single- and conventional multi-lead ECGs. The concordance between these modalities was quantified using the intraclass correlation coefficient and Bland–Altman plot analysis. Results: The minimum and average HR readings between the devices were generally consistent. Parameters such as ventricular ectopic beats and supraventricular ectopic beats showed strong agreement. However, the agreement for the Total QRS and Maximum RR was not sufficient. HR measurements across different stages of the exercise test showed sufficient agreement. Although not statistically significant, the standard multi-lead ECG devices exhibited higher noise levels compared to the wearable single-lead ECG devices. Conclusions: Wearable single-lead ECG devices can reliably monitor HR and detect abnormal beats across a spectrum of exercise intensities, offering a viable alternative to traditional multi-lead systems.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted disease in the U.S. Data on knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs related to HPV vaccination among college students are limited. The purpose of this study was to provide a comprehensive description of the variables influencing HPV vaccination uptake and intention among college students. This study employed a cross sectional descriptive quantitative design. Survey data were collected online from the 181 college students, aged 18–25 years. The data were analyzed to identify the students’ attitudes toward HPV vaccine (perceived potential harm, effectiveness, barriers, and uncertainty), knowledge of HPV and HPV vaccine, and their intention of receiving the vaccine in the next 6 months. Descriptive statistics, Chi-square tests, ANOVA, and logistic regressions were conducted to examine the correlates of vaccination intention and uptake. Among 181 participants, 101 (55.8%) were had received at least one dose of HPV vaccine, 52 (28.7%) intended to receive HPV vaccine, and 28 (15.5%) did not intend to receive HPV vaccine. On average, participants responded correctly to less than half of the questions on the HPV knowledge and HPV vaccine knowledge scales, and those who were vaccinated were significantly more knowledgeable than their counterparts. Multivariate logistic regression showed HPV vaccine knowledge and uncertainty were significant factors associated with HPV vaccine uptake. Providing education designed to improve HPV and HPV vaccination knowledge and decrease feelings of uncertainty could improve college students’ HPV vaccination uptake.

Wearable electrocardiogram (ECG) monitoring devices are used worldwide. However, data on the diagnostic yield of an adhesive single-lead ECG patch (SEP) to detect premature ventricular complex (PVC) and the optimal duration of wearing an SEP for PVC burden assessment are limited. We aimed to validate the diagnostic yield of an SEP (mobiCARE MC-100, Seers Technology) for PVC detection and evaluate the PVC burden variation recorded by the SEP over a 3-day monitoring period. This is a prospective study of patients with documented PVC on a 12-lead ECG. Patients underwent simultaneous ECG monitoring with the 24-hour Holter monitor and SEP on the first day. On the subsequent second and third days, ECG monitoring was continued using only SEP, and a 3-day extended monitoring was completed. The diagnostic yield of SEP for PVC detection was evaluated by comparison with the results obtained on the first day of Holter monitoring. The PVC burden monitored by SEP for 3 days was used to assess the daily and 6-hour PVC burden variations. The number of patients additionally identified to reach PVC thresholds of 10%, 15%, and 20% during the 3-day extended monitoring by SEP and the clinical factors associated with the higher PVC burden variations were explored. The recruited data of 134 monitored patients (mean age, 54.6 years; males, 45/134, 33.6%) were analyzed. The median daily PVC burden of these patients was 2.4% (IQR 0.2%-10.9%), as measured by the Holter monitor, and 3.3% (IQR 0.3%-11.7%), as measured in the 3-day monitoring by SEP. The daily PVC burden detected on the first day of SEP was in agreement with that of the Holter monitor: the mean difference was -0.07%, with 95% limits of agreement of -1.44% to 1.30%. A higher PVC burden on the first day was correlated with a higher daily (R =0.34) and 6-hour burden variation (R =0.48). Three-day monitoring by SEP identified 29% (12/42), 18% (10/56), and 7% (4/60) more patients reaching 10%, 15%, and 20% of daily PVC burden, respectively. Younger age was additionally associated with the identification of clinically significant PVC burden during the extended monitoring period (P=.02). We found that the mobiCARE MC-100 SEP accurately detects PVC with comparable diagnostic yield to the 24-hour Holter monitor. Performing 3-day PVC monitoring with SEP, especially among younger patients, may offer a pragmatic alternative for identifying more individuals exceeding the clinically significant PVC burden threshold.

Histone acetylation is an epigenetic mechanism that regulates the expression of various genes, such as natural killer group 2, member D (NKG2D) ligands. These NKG2D ligands are the key molecules that activate immune cells expressing the NKG2D receptor. It has been observed that cancer cells overexpress histone deacetylases (HDACs) and show reduced acetylation of nuclear histones. Furthermore, HDAC inhibitors are known to upregulate the expression of NKG2D ligands. Humans have 18 known HDAC enzymes that are divided into four classes. At present, it is not clear which types of HDAC are involved in the expression of NKG2D ligands. We hypothesized that specific types of HDAC genes might be responsible for altering the expression of NKG2D ligands. In this study, we monitored the expression of NKG2D ligands and major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I molecules in lung cancer cells which were treated with six selective HDAC inhibitors and specific small interfering RNAs (siRNAs). We observed that treatment with FK228, which is a selective HDAC1/2 inhibitor, also known as Romidepsin, induced NKG2D ligand expression at the transcriptional and proteomic levels in two different lung cancer cell lines. It also caused an increase in the susceptibility of NCI-H23 cells to NK cells. Silencing HDAC1 or HDAC2 using specific siRNAs increased NKG2D ligand expression. In conclusion, it appears that HDAC1 and HDAC2 might be the key molecules regulating the expression of NKG2D ligands. These results imply that specifically inhibiting HDAC1 and HDAC2 could induce the expression of NKG2D ligands and improve the NK cell-mediated anti-cancer immunity.

Background Cancer is the greatest disease burden in Korea. Cancer screening can reduce the burden of cancer but cancer screening rates among Koreans remain low. The purposes of this study were to a) understand Koreans’ beliefs and knowledge about cancer screening, and b) explore preferred strategies for increasing cancer screening utilization. Methods We conducted a descriptive, qualitative study using eight face-to-face focus groups with a total of 64 Koreans aged 40 and over. Participants answered semi-structured, open-ended questions assessing their experiences with, and beliefs, knowledge, and opinions about, cancer screening. All interview data were recorded and analyzed in the context of the health belief model (HBM). Results The most important themes that emerged from the focus group data were (a) perceived susceptibility (most of the participants believed they were not susceptible to cancer; those who perceived themselves susceptible to cancer were reluctant to express it); (b) perceived benefits (early detection and feelings of relief after cancer screening were benefits; participants had screening because they wanted to take advantage of the Korean government’s Medical Payment Support program for cancer patients who have participated in the National Cancer Screening program); (c) perceived barriers (no symptoms; self-care when having symptoms; widespread distrust of tests, doctors, and hospitals; unkind health care providers; the financial burdens of advanced cancer screening tests; and the discomfort during cancer screening); and (d) knowledge of the causes of cancer (incorrect knowledge including beliefs that stress, personality, and body overuse cause cancer). Almost all of the participants were very knowledgeable about the seriousness of cancer and were confident that they were able to have cancer screening. Participants preferred strategies of cancer screening using group interventions with family or friends; various information delivery methods; information emphasizing the importance of cancer prevention; convenient, free, or inexpensive services; and kind health care providers. Conclusions This HBM-based research suggests that beliefs in low susceptibility to cancer, many barriers to cancer screening, and incorrect knowledge should be the foci for increasing cancer screening rates in Koreans. Interventions could change individual cultural beliefs and increase knowledge as well as the quality of health care for Koreans.