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Early diagnosis of dengue virus (DENV) infection can improve clinical outcomes by ensuring close follow-up, initiating appropriate supportive therapies and raising awareness to the potential of hemorrhage or shock. Non-structural glycoprotein-1 (NS1) has proven to be a useful biomarker for early diagnosis of dengue. A number of rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) targeting NS1 antigen (Ag) are now commercially available. Here we evaluated these tests using a well-characterized panel of clinical samples to determine their effectiveness for early diagnosis. Retrospective samples from South America were used to evaluate the following tests: (i) \"Dengue NS1 Ag STRIP\" and (ii) \"Platelia Dengue NS1 Ag ELISA\" (Bio-Rad, France), (iii) \"Dengue NS1 Detect Rapid Test (1st Generation)\" and (iv) \"DENV Detect NS1 ELISA\" (InBios International, United States), (v) \"Panbio Dengue Early Rapid (1st generation)\" (vi) \"Panbio Dengue Early ELISA (2nd generation)\" and (vii) \"SD Bioline Dengue NS1 Ag Rapid Test\" (Alere, United States). Overall, the sensitivity of the RDTs ranged from 71.9%-79.1% while the sensitivity of the ELISAs varied between 85.6-95.9%, using virus isolation as the reference method. Most tests had lower sensitivity for DENV-4 relative to the other three serotypes, were less sensitive in detecting secondary infections, and appeared to be most sensitive on Day 3-4 post symptom onset. The specificity of all evaluated tests ranged from 95%-100%. ELISAs had greater overall sensitivity than RDTs. In conjunction with other parameters, the performance data can help determine which dengue diagnostics should be used during the first few days of illness, when the patients are most likely to present to a clinic seeking care.

IntroductionThe mucin gene is expressed in the mucous membrane of the inner layer of the internal organs. Intestinalmucin 2 (MUC2), amajor gel-formingmucin, represents a primary barrier component of mucus layers.Materials and methodsThis is the first report on the role of mucin genes in growth traits in animals. In this study, we randomly studied Bengal ducks (Anas platyrhynchos) reared from day old to 10 weeks of age under an organized farm and studied the growth parameters as well as body weight and average daily body weight gain.Result and discussionWe characterized the mucin gene for Bengal ducks and observed glycosylation and EGF1 (EGF-like domain signature) as important domains for growth traits in ducks. We observed a better expression profile for the mucin gene in high-growing ducks in comparison to that of low-growing ducks with real-time PCR. Hence, the mucin gene may be employed as a marker for growth traits.

Background Sleep apnea, a common sleep disorder, has been associated with various health conditions, including arthritis. This study investigates the relationship between sleep apnea and arthritis, examining how demographic and clinical characteristics impact this association. There are several interrelations between sleep apnea and arthritis, one of which may be attributed to systemic inflammation and oxidative stress pathways commonly activated in both conditions. There is an increasing prevalence of both conditions in aging populations, with potential implications for clinical practice and patient management. Method The study utilized logistic regression analysis to assess the presence of sleep apnea in a sample of 46,268 participants from NACC ADRC first assessments with UDSv3, considering arthritis, age, race (white/non‐white), Hispanic origin, sex, education, and diagnosis (Alzheimer’s Disease [AD], Mild Cognitive Impairment [MCI], Cognitively Unimpaired). The analysis aimed to understand the likelihood of sleep apnea occurrence in relation to these factors. Result The mean age of participants was 71.33 years (57% female). Arthritis was significantly associated with sleep apnea (aOR = 1.91, 95% CI: 1.75, 2.09, p < 0.001). Age showed a borderline non‐significant influence (aOR = 1.00, p = 0.086). Female sex was less likely to be associated with sleep apnea compared to males (aOR = 0.40, 95% CI: 0.37, 0.44, p < 0.001). Educational attainment showed a slight positive correlation with sleep apnea presence (aOR = 1.02, p = 0.018). In terms of cognitive diagnosis, MCI and AD were associated with higher odds of sleep apnea compared to normal cognition (MCI: aOR = 1.33, p < 0.001; AD: aOR = 1.13, p = 0.026). MCI was associated with higher odds of sleep apnea compared to AD (aOR = 1.18, p = 0.004). Race and Hispanic origin did not show significant associations with sleep apnea. Conclusion The study highlights a significant association between arthritis and sleep apnea. Sex differences and educational level also play a role in the likelihood of developing sleep apnea among arthritis patients. These findings suggest a need for targeted screening and management strategies for patients with both sleep apnea and arthritis, particularly considering sex and cognitive status.

INTRODUCTION Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) represents a transitional stage between normal aging and dementia. We investigate associations among cardiovascular and metabolic disorders (hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and hyperlipidemia) and diagnosis (normal; amnestic [aMCI]; and non‐amnestic [naMCI]). METHODS Multinomial logistic regressions of participant data (N = 8737; age = 70.9 ± 7.5 years) from the National Alzheimer's Coordinating Center Uniform Dataset Version 3 protocol cohort were used. RESULTS Controlling for demographic/health variables, individuals with aMCI, though not naMCI, showed a higher likelihood of hypertension, diabetes, and hyperlipidemia compared to cognitively normal counterparts, though no differences between aMCI/naMCI. Black Americans, regardless of cognitive status, were more likely to fall into hypertension and diabetes groups compared to White Americans. DISCUSSION These findings underscore the critical role of diagnosis and race in MCI diagnosis and care, emphasizing the need for tailored interventions to address inequities and reduce the risk of progression to dementia. Highlights The study leverages a large, racially diverse cohort from the NACC database.  Black Americans with non‐amnestic mild cognitive impairment(naMCI) show highest comorbidity burden. No significant differences in comorbidity burden between amnestic MCI (aMCI) and naMCI subtypes.  Education is protective, but less so for Black American individuals. Older age, male sex, body mass index (BMI), and low education associate with increased risk for comorbidities.

Sleep apnea, a common sleep disorder, has been associated with various health conditions, including arthritis. This study investigates the relationship between sleep apnea and arthritis, examining how demographic and clinical characteristics impact this association. There are several interrelations between sleep apnea and arthritis, one of which may be attributed to systemic inflammation and oxidative stress pathways commonly activated in both conditions. There is an increasing prevalence of both conditions in aging populations, with potential implications for clinical practice and patient management. The study utilized logistic regression analysis to assess the presence of sleep apnea in a sample of 46,268 participants from NACC ADRC first assessments with UDSv3, considering arthritis, age, race (white/non-white), Hispanic origin, sex, education, and diagnosis (Alzheimer's Disease [AD], Mild Cognitive Impairment [MCI], Cognitively Unimpaired). The analysis aimed to understand the likelihood of sleep apnea occurrence in relation to these factors. The mean age of participants was 71.33 years (57% female). Arthritis was significantly associated with sleep apnea (aOR = 1.91, 95% CI: 1.75, 2.09, p < 0.001). Age showed a borderline non-significant influence (aOR = 1.00, p = 0.086). Female sex was less likely to be associated with sleep apnea compared to males (aOR = 0.40, 95% CI: 0.37, 0.44, p < 0.001). Educational attainment showed a slight positive correlation with sleep apnea presence (aOR = 1.02, p = 0.018). In terms of cognitive diagnosis, MCI and AD were associated with higher odds of sleep apnea compared to normal cognition (MCI: aOR = 1.33, p < 0.001; AD: aOR = 1.13, p = 0.026). MCI was associated with higher odds of sleep apnea compared to AD (aOR = 1.18, p = 0.004). Race and Hispanic origin did not show significant associations with sleep apnea. The study highlights a significant association between arthritis and sleep apnea. Sex differences and educational level also play a role in the likelihood of developing sleep apnea among arthritis patients. These findings suggest a need for targeted screening and management strategies for patients with both sleep apnea and arthritis, particularly considering sex and cognitive status.

Background Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST) and Trail Making Test‐Part B (Trails B) are commonly used neuropsychological measures of executive functioning. Previously, Trails B was found to be more sensitive than the WCST in predicting executive dysfunction. The Emory WCST (eWCST) was adapted to remove cards with multiple sort options and duplicate cards, creating a more direct measure of executive function. This study aimed to assess whether the eWCST was a better predictor of executive dysfunction compared to Trails B. Method Data from 864 participants enrolled in the longitudinal University of Michigan Memory and Aging Project within the Michigan Alzheimer’s Disease Center were analyzed (34.3% Male, 34.7% Black/African American). Participants completed baseline neuropsychological testing and other Unified Data Set activities and received a consensus diagnosis: Cognitively Normal, amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment (aMCI), non‐amnestic MCI (naMCI), or dementia due to suspected Alzheimer’s disease (AD). eWCST total errors and Trails B completion time were standardized and converted to T‐scores. Mean test scores within each diagnostic group were compared via Welch 2 sample t‐tests. Analysis of variance (ANOVAs) were used to compare group differences in eWCST and Trails B performance. Multinomial logistic regression was used to predict cognitive diagnosis using eWCST and Trails B performance. Result Within the three impaired groups (aMCI, naMCI, AD), mean T‐scores were lower (e.g., less impaired) for eWCST compared to Trails B (p’s<0.01). There was no between‐test difference for the cognitively normal group. All four groups showed significant differences for Trails B scores while eWCST differences were seen between all groups except between aMCI and naMCI. Logistic regression results found Trails B performance distinguished AD from both MCI groups (aMCI OR = 0.97, p<0.001; naMCI OR = 0.98, p<0.01), whereas eWCST errors trended toward differentiating AD from aMCI (p = 0.06) but not naMCI. Conclusion Findings suggest Trails B completion time better differentiates AD from both amnestic and non‐amnestic MCI compared to the eWCST, similar to previous findings (Hammers et al., 2015). Determining the best predictors of cognitive diagnosis enables the selection of a concise testing battery to minimize participant burden and maximizing diagnostic utility, given the limited time and resources available at research centers.

Background Higher body mass index (BMI) has often been linked to a heightened risk for cognitive decline; however, emerging evidence suggests a potential “obesity paradox,” in which overweight or obese older adults may actually experience a slower rate of cognitive decline. Using a large, longitudinal cohort of older adults from 25 sites across the United States, we examined the relationship between BMI and cognition. Method Data were drawn from the National Alzheimer’s Coordinating Center (NACC) database over five annual visits. Cognition was measured by the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). Clinically‐assessed BMI was categorized as normal, overweight, and obese. Time‐varying covariate measures included age and presence of clinically‐assessed comorbidities (i.e., diabetes, hyperlipidemia, and hypertension). To test the association between MoCA and BMI, we used linear‐mixed effects regression models with random intercepts and fixed effects for BMI, time, and their interaction with covariate measures. We performed sensitivity analyses stratified by age (55‐75, and ≥ 76). Result In the full sample (n =526 participants, p =2630 observations), total raw MoCA scores significantly decreased from visit 1 to visit 5 (β = ‐0.71, p<0.05). Age was negatively associated with MoCA (β = ‐0.09, p<0.5). There was no significant main effect of BMI on MoCA, however there were significant interactions between BMI categories and time. Specifically, obese (β = 0.86, p< 0.05) and overweight (β = 0.95, p <0.05) participants showed a slower rate of decline in MoCA over five visits compared to normal‐weight individuals. The same pattern of results held for participants aged 55‐75 as in the full sample. However, among those 76 years and older, being overweight or obese no longer significantly reduced the MoCA decline over the five visits. Comorbidities were not associated with MoCA in any of the models. Conclusion In contrast to some previous research, our findings suggest a complex, and at times contradictory, relationship between weight status and MoCA score, where overweight or obesity may modestly buffer against cognitive decline based on age. Further research should explore potential age‐dependent effects, clarify casual pathways, and determine whether targeted interventions around BMI might modify late‐life cognitive trajectories.

Higher body mass index (BMI) has often been linked to a heightened risk for cognitive decline; however, emerging evidence suggests a potential \"obesity paradox,\" in which overweight or obese older adults may actually experience a slower rate of cognitive decline. Using a large, longitudinal cohort of older adults from 25 sites across the United States, we examined the relationship between BMI and cognition. Data were drawn from the National Alzheimer's Coordinating Center (NACC) database over five annual visits. Cognition was measured by the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). Clinically-assessed BMI was categorized as normal, overweight, and obese. Time-varying covariate measures included age and presence of clinically-assessed comorbidities (i.e., diabetes, hyperlipidemia, and hypertension). To test the association between MoCA and BMI, we used linear-mixed effects regression models with random intercepts and fixed effects for BMI, time, and their interaction with covariate measures. We performed sensitivity analyses stratified by age (55-75, and ≥ 76). In the full sample (n =526 participants, p =2630 observations), total raw MoCA scores significantly decreased from visit 1 to visit 5 (β = -0.71, p<0.05). Age was negatively associated with MoCA (β = -0.09, p<0.5). There was no significant main effect of BMI on MoCA, however there were significant interactions between BMI categories and time. Specifically, obese (β = 0.86, p< 0.05) and overweight (β = 0.95, p <0.05) participants showed a slower rate of decline in MoCA over five visits compared to normal-weight individuals. The same pattern of results held for participants aged 55-75 as in the full sample. However, among those 76 years and older, being overweight or obese no longer significantly reduced the MoCA decline over the five visits. Comorbidities were not associated with MoCA in any of the models. In contrast to some previous research, our findings suggest a complex, and at times contradictory, relationship between weight status and MoCA score, where overweight or obesity may modestly buffer against cognitive decline based on age. Further research should explore potential age-dependent effects, clarify casual pathways, and determine whether targeted interventions around BMI might modify late-life cognitive trajectories.

Background Motor impairments are emerging predictors of amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) and dementia of the Alzheimer's type (DAT), with these groups demonstrating worse performance on metrics such as gait speed and endurance relative to cognitively normal (NC) controls (Windham et al., 2022). Racial disparities, including systemic inequities in healthcare access and chronic disease prevalence, contribute to worse motor performance in Black individuals (Blanco et al., 2012). This study examines NIH Toolbox Motor Battery (NIHTB‐MB) performance across racial and diagnostic groups (e.g., NC, aMCI, DAT), hypothesizing poorer motor performance in Black participants and linear motor decline across diagnostic categories. Method The sample included 557 older adults ages 65‐99 (41.1% male) from the Assessing Reliable Measurement in Alzheimer's Disease and Cognitive Aging (ARMADA) study. Participants completed NIHTB‐MB measures of balance, gait speed, endurance, grip strength, and fine motor dexterity. After controlling for age and sex, racial differences between Black (n = 123) and White (n = 232) NC participants were assessed using multiple linear regression, while diagnostic group differences (NC: n = 355; aMCI: n = 137; DAT: n = 65) were examined using ANCOVA with post‐hoc comparisons. Result Motor performance declined with age across all measures (p < .001). Black participants scored higher than White on Standing Balance, t(69)=‐2.91, p = .005, with no other racial differences in motor performance. Across diagnostic groups, individuals with DAT performed worse than NC on balance (p = .007), dominant/non‐dominant grip strength (p = .005/.05), dominant/non‐dominant dexterity (p = .003/< .001), and endurance (p < .001) measures. Participants with DAT also performed worse than those with aMCI on dominant/non‐dominant dexterity (p = .049/< .001), endurance (p = .002), and balance (p = .05). Gait speed did not differ across groups, and no motor differences were observed between NC and aMCI groups. Conclusion Contrary to expectation, Black older adults exhibited better balance than White, though missing values were highest for this measure. Motor decline was primarily observed in individuals with DAT, who performed worse on fine motor dexterity, grip strength, endurance, and balance compared to NC and aMCI groups. These findings suggest that motor difficulty may serve as a marker of DAT, while NIHTB‐MB performance in aMCI remains largely preserved. Thus, more sensitive metrics, such as dual task conditions, may better characterize early motor changes in aMCI.

Background The impact of knowledge of β‐amyloid status on cognitively unimpaired persons' cognitive test performance is unknown. Method Cognitively unimpaired adults aged 65‐80 with a first‐degree relative with AD received a dementia risk estimate and were randomly assigned to disclosure (D+) or non‐disclosure (D‐) of their β‐amyloid PET scan result. At 6 weeks and 6 months post‐disclosure, participants completed the ADCS‐PACC, a composite of Free and Cued Selective Reminding (free portion), Logical Memory IIa test, Digit‐Symbol Substitution, and MMSE. Scores from each test are standardized to a Z‐score metric and a composite score calculated by summing the standardized Z‐scores. Result 315 participants were randomized (84 elevated (41 A+D+/43 A+D‐)) and 231 not elevated (118 A‐D+, 113 A‐D‐)). After adjusting for baseline PACC scores, analyses compared PACC scores between (1.) A+D+ and A+D‐ and (2.) A‐D+ and A‐D‐ and stratified by race. A+ participants who learned their result (D+) had lower mean follow‐up PACC scores than participants who did not learn their β‐amyloid PET scan result (D‐) at 6 weeks (β = ‐0.89, 95% CI: ‐1.65, ‐0.13, p = 0.023) but not at 6 months post‐disclosure (β = ‐0.50, 95% CI ‐1.28, 0.27, p = .21). Mean follow‐up PACC scores did not differ between A‐ who did or did not learn their result at both 6 weeks (β ‐0.02, 95% CI: ‐0.42, 0.37, p = 0.91) and 6 months post‐disclosure (β ‐0.15, 95% CI ‐0.54, 0.25, p = .47). Analyses stratified by race showed Black/African American A+D+ had lower scores than A+D‐ at 6 weeks (β ‐2.01, 95% CI: ‐3.57, ‐0.45, p = 0.01) and 6 months post‐disclosure (β ‐1.63, 95% CI ‐3.19, ‐0.06, p = .04). Disclosure had no impact on scores of nonblack participants with elevated amyloid and the scores of any of not elevated participant groups. Conclusion Knowledge of an elevated amyloid result reduced cognitively unimpaired persons PACC scores. A greater impact was observed in Black/African American participants’ test performance compared to non‐Black participants. In contrast, knowledge of not‐elevated amyloid showed no impact on test performance in any of the groups. Clinical trials should consider the potential impact of AD biomarker knowledge on cognitive outcomes.