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IntroductionEmerging nicotine-containing products, including heated tobacco products (HTPs) and nicotine pouches, have been growing in popularity in the European Union (EU). Advertising exposure impacts perceived product appeal and may contribute to product initiation. However, the current EU’s Tobacco Products Directive lacks a consistent framework for regulating these advertisements. This study examines how exposure to HTP and nicotine pouch advertisements influences their appeal among people who have never used nicotine.MethodsData from the Special Eurobarometer 99.3 survey (May–June 2023) included 13 436 participants who have never used nicotine across 27 EU Member States. We estimated the weighted prevalence of HTP and nicotine pouch advertising exposure and perceived appeal and ran multilevel Poisson regression models adjusting for sociodemographic factors.Results31.1% of participants reported HTP advertising exposure across the EU, with the highest levels reported in Romania (53.4%) and Slovakia (50.0%) and the lowest in Malta (13.6%). Nicotine pouch advertising exposure averaged 16.6%, peaking in Sweden (46.0%) and lowest in the Netherlands (5.0%) and Lithuania (7.7%). Product appeal remained low, with only 2.0% finding HTPs appealing and 1.3% finding nicotine pouches appealing. Exposed to HTP advertisements were 3.71 times more likely to find them appealing, while exposure to nicotine pouch advertisements increased perceived appeal of nicotine pouches by 5.78 times.ConclusionAdvertising exposure was associated with higher appeal of nicotine-containing products among people who have never used nicotine. Given the risk of initiation, EU-wide advertising restrictions could protect this group and limit the impact of these products on health.

Background: Increasing evidence shows that Fusobacterium nucleatum (F. nucleatum) largely affects colorectal cancer (CRC) growth and progression; therefore, the inhibition of intratumoral F. nucleatum may be one realistic approach to combat CRC. Although antibiotics are helpful in eliminating bacteria, the major problem remains the rise of potential antibiotic-resistant strains and antibiotic-associated adverse effects. Currently, bacteriophage therapy has gained interest because of its high selectivity to bacterial hosts and may become a realistic approach in treating bacteria-associated cancers. Methods: In this study, a new F. nucleatum bacteriophage, ØTCUFN3, was isolated and its biological characteristics were identified. In vitro and in vivo studies were performed to investigate the effect of ØTCUFN3 in combating F. nucleatum-induced CRC growth. Results: By applying ØTCUFN3 to F. nucleatum-induced CRC cell lines, p53+/+, and p53−/− isogenic HCT116 cells, our results revealed an inhibition of CRC proliferation and the expression of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers. ØTCUFN3 injection also reduced the growth of F. nucleatum-induced mouse xenografts. Conclusions: Our results demonstrated the use of F. nucleatum bacteriophage against CRC, laying the foundation for the future usage of bacteriophage in cancer treatment.

Background Operating an object by generating stable hand-grip force during static or dynamic posture control of the upper extremities simultaneously is an important daily activity. Older adults require different attentional resources during grip strength control and arm movements. However, the impact of aging and reaching movements on precise grip strength and stability control among older adults is not well understood. This study investigated the impact of aging and reaching movements on grip strength and stability control in both hands of the upper extremities. Methods Fifty healthy young adults (age: 28.8 ± 14.0 years) and 54 healthy older adults (73.6 ± 6.3 years) were recruited to perform isometric grip strength test at 20% maximal voluntary contraction as the target force during three manual precision tasks simultaneously: stationary task (without arm movements), forward-reach task, and backward-reach task. The average grip force (in kg) and coefficient of variation values (expressed as a percentage) during manual precision tasks were calculated to determine the quality of participants’ grip strength. The deviation error, absolute error, and force-stability index values were calculated to determine the strength control relative to the target force. Results For both the young and older groups, the force-stability index values in both hands were significantly higher during forward- and backward-reaching movements than in the stationary condition ( p  < 0.05). The older group exhibited a significantly lower hand-grip strength and stability of strength control in both hands than the young group ( p  < 0.05). Conclusions Aging and reaching task performance reduced the grip strength of participants and increased the variations in strength control of both hands relative to the target force, indicating that older adults exhibit poor grip strength and stability control when performing arm-reaching movements. These findings may help clinical therapists in establishing objective indexes for poor grip-stability control screening and developing appropriate rehabilitation programs or health-promotion exercises that can improve grip strength and stability control in older people.

Background and objectives Nutritional deficiencies, renal impairment and chronic inflammation are commonly mentioned determinants of anaemia. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of these determinants, singly and in combination, on anaemia in the very old. Method The TULIPS Consortium consists of four population-based studies in oldest-old individuals: Leiden 85-plus Study, LiLACS NZ, Newcastle 85+ study, and TOOTH. Five selected determinants (iron, vitamin B12, and folate deficiency; low estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR); and high C-reactive protein (CRP)) were summed. This sum score was used to investigate the association with the presence and onset of anaemia (WHO definition). The individual study results were pooled using random-effects models. Results In the 2216 participants (59% female, 30% anaemia) at baseline, iron deficiency, low eGFR and high CRP were individually associated with the presence of anaemia. Low eGFR and high CRP were individually associated with the onset of anaemia. In the cross-sectional analyses, an increase per additional determinant (adjusted OR 2.10 (95% CI 1.85–2.38)) and a combination of ≥2 determinants (OR 3.44 (95% CI 2.70–4.38)) were associated with the presence of anaemia. In the prospective analyses, an increase per additional determinant (adjusted HR 1.46 (95% CI 1.24–1.71)) and the presence of ≥2 determinants (HR 1.95 (95% CI 1.40–2.71)) were associated with the onset of anaemia. Conclusion Very old adults with a combination of determinants of anaemia have a higher risk of having, and of developing, anaemia. Further research is recommended to explore causality and clinical relevance.

IntroductionIn December 2024, the Council of the European Union (EU) adopted a recommendation to expand regulations on the use of nicotine-containing products both in indoor settings and specific outdoor areas. This study aimed to examine sociodemographic factors associated with exposure to conventional tobacco smoke and aerosols across the EU and support for relevant regulations.MethodsWe performed a secondary analysis of cross-sectional data from the Special Eurobarometer 99.3 (n=26 358, May–June 2023) across 27 EU Member States (MS). We estimated the weighted prevalence of secondhand exposure to tobacco smoke and aerosols and support for bans on smoking, e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products in public settings. Multilevel Poisson regression models explored associations between sociodemographic factors and these outcomes.ResultsExposure to secondhand smoke and aerosols varied across EU MS. Younger individuals, those with higher education, living with children, and current and former tobacco and nicotine users (prevalence ratio (PR) 1.16, 1.01–1.33; and PR 1.22, 1.05–1.41, respectively) were more likely to report exposure to both tobacco smoke and aerosol from emerging products. Women (PR 1.05, 1.02–1.08; and PR 1.03, 1.02–1.05, respectively), those living with children (PR 1.05, 1.02–1.07; and PR 1.04, 1.02–1.07, respectively) and those with higher education levels (PR 1.10, 1.04–1.15; and PR 1.10, 1.06–1.14) were more likely to support bans, whereas those with financial difficulties (PR 0.94, 0.89–0.99 and PR: 0.95, 0.91–0.99, respectively), as well as current and former smokers (PR 0.61, 0.55–0.67; and PR 0.78, 0.73–0.84, respectively) and emerging product users (PR 0.84, 0.76–0.92; and PR 0.69, 0.62–0.76, respectively), were less supportive.ConclusionOur analysis found that both exposure to secondhand smoke and aerosol and support for bans in public spaces vary substantially between population subgroups and across countries. Our findings can support EU MS in implementing targeted interventions to increase population support for and implement the recent EU Council recommendations.

Sulfonylureas are frequently used as add-on to metformin in type 2 diabetes (T2D), and individual sulfonylurea agents carry different risks of cardiovascular disease. Sulfonylureas' different affinities to cardiac mitochondrial adenosine triphosphate-sensitive potassium (mitoKATP) channels have been speculated to account for the intraclass difference in cardiovascular risk from in vitro and ex vivo studies; however, this hypothesis has not been assessed in a general population with diabetes receiving sulfonylureas added to metformin. To compare the risk of myocardial infarction (MI), ischemic stroke, or cardiovascular death in patients with T2D treated with mitoKATP channel high-affinity sulfonylureas and low-affinity sulfonylureas as add-on to metformin. This is a new-user, active-comparator, and propensity score-matched cohort study with analysis of the Taiwanese Diabetes Mellitus Health Database from 2006, to 2017. Data analysis was performed from August 2020 to July 2021. Cardiac mitoKATP channel high-affinity (glyburide and glipizide) and low-affinity (gliclazide and glimepiride) sulfonylureas combined with metformin. Primary outcome was major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs), a composite of cardiovascular death or hospitalization for either MI or ischemic stroke. Secondary outcomes included individual MACE components, heart failure, arrhythmia, all-cause mortality, and severe hypoglycemia. Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate adjusted hazard ratios (aHRs). Each sulfonylurea group comprised 53 714 patients (mean [SD] age, 54.7 [12.1] years; 31 962 men [59.5%]). MitoKATP channel high-affinity sulfonylureas vs low-affinity sulfonylureas when combined with metformin were associated with an increased risk of MACE (aHR, 1.18; 95% CI, 1.03-1.34), MI (aHR, 1.34; 95% CI, 1.04-1.73), all-cause mortality (aHR, 1.27; 95% CI, 1.03-1.57), and severe hypoglycemia (aHR, 1.82; 95% CI, 1.58-2.10), but not with increased risks of ischemic stroke, cardiovascular death, arrhythmia, and heart failure. The duration analyses revealed the highest MACE risk during 1 to 90 days after initiation of mitoKATP channel high-affinity sulfonylureas (aHR, 6.06; 95% CI, 4.86-7.55). Use of mitoKATP channel high-affinity sulfonylureas vs low-affinity sulfonylureas was associated with an increased MACE risk in patients with T2D concomitantly receiving metformin, suggesting that high-affinity blockage of the mitoKATP channels could account for sulfonylurea-associated MACEs.

University students frequently encounter stress and anxiety, impacting their autonomic nervous system and mental health. Rhythmic photic stimulation (RPS) at various frequencies is considered a potential intervention for anxiety and depression, but its effectiveness is not fully understood. This research aimed to assess the impact of RPS at theta (6 Hz), alpha (10 Hz), and beta (25 Hz) frequencies on autonomic nervous system regulation in university students, comparing the effects between those with and without depression symptoms. Conducted at a southern Taiwan university, this quasi-experimental study involved RPS interventions at specified frequencies, with pre and post assessments of heartbeat, blood pressure, and heart rate variability. Among 62 participants (average age 20.29±0.61), those without depression showed a notable blood pressure reduction following theta-frequency RPS compared to other frequencies (p<0.05). A similar pattern was observed when comparing non-depressed and depressed participants after theta-RPS, with depressed individuals experiencing an increase in sympathetic activity (p<0.05). RPS, particularly at theta frequency, can significantly influence the autonomic nervous system, suggesting a potential for reducing anxiety-related physiological markers in university students. Further verification with a larger and longitudinal study is warranted.

In this thesis, we propose the energy band diagram model to explain the on-region photo effect of Gap-type amorphous silicon thin-film transistor (Gap-type a-Si TFT). To verify the energy band diagram model, we do the response time, wavelength effect, temperature effect and noise measurement experiments. According to the experimental data of light response, and wavelength effect, we find the drain current becomes larger with more light induced carriers and the movement of the carriers is affected by two different mechanisms. According to the energy band diagram model, we can remove the potential well by changing the gate voltage. Next, with the experimental data of temperature effect, we can get the activation energy. Finally, to understand the potential of the Gap-type a-Si TFT to be the image sensor, we measure the noise behavior under illumination. We find the signal to noise ratio does not decrease under illumination. Besides, with the two models of noise mechanism, carrier number fluctuation, and mobility fluctuation, we can get more evidence to support our model.

The performance and reliability of large-area graphene grown by chemical vapor deposition are often limited by the presence of wrinkles and the transfer-process-induced polymer residue. Here, we report a transfer approach using paraffin as a support layer, whose thermal properties, low chemical reactivity and non-covalent affinity to graphene enable transfer of wrinkle-reduced and clean large-area graphene. The paraffin-transferred graphene has smooth morphology and high electrical reliability with uniform sheet resistance with ~1% deviation over a centimeter-scale area. Electronic devices fabricated on such smooth graphene exhibit electrical performance approaching that of intrinsic graphene with small Dirac points and high carrier mobility (hole mobility = 14,215 cm 2  V −1 s −1 ; electron mobility = 7438 cm 2  V −1 s −1 ), without the need of further annealing treatment. The paraffin-enabled transfer process could open realms for the development of high-performance ubiquitous electronics based on large-area two-dimensional materials. The transfer process of as-grown graphene limits its electrical performance and reliability. Here, the authors develop a transfer approach using paraffin as a support layer and obtain wrinkle-reduced and clean large-area graphene retaining high mobility.