Search Results (633)

Background: The normal pattern of nipple enhancement on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is defined based on healthy individuals, as it correlates with the structural anatomy of the nipple–areola complex (NAC). Understanding the normal range of nipple morphology and enhancement on MRI allows radiologists to better identify abnormalities. Some authors have previously detailed the morphology and characteristics of nipple–areola complex enhancement, both in normal and pathologically infiltrating conditions. Our aim is to present a case series involving a population of women with breast cancer infiltrating the NAC, retrospectively evaluated at our institution. Furthermore, based on previously published literature and our own experience, we intend to propose potential standardized language to describe tumor-infiltrating NAC enhancement on MRI and compare it with CT and PET findings. Methods: Our study included 110 breast cancer patients with NAC infiltration, who were referred to our hospital from August 2023 to July 2024. All patients were candidates for neoadjuvant chemotherapy and therefore underwent MRI and CT; 33 of them also underwent PET/CT. We distinguished the MRI enhancement pattern based on morphology and intensity. There were three types of morphology: SLE (superficial linear enhancement) at the skin level, NEZ (non-enhancing area immediately below the SLE), and INE (nipple enhancement below the NEZ but above the nipple base). In INE, the pattern could be linear or patchy. Depending on the intensity, the enhancement could be minimal, mild, moderate, or marked. The enhancement on CT depended on the distribution of pathological tissue in the infiltrated NAC and could be present or absent; it could involve the nipple base, the nipple body, or both. For quantitative analysis, we used the maximum standardized uptake value (SUV) measured in early-stage PET/CT images, obtained by delineating a three-dimensional volume of interest (VOI) on the NAC. Results: In our population, the most represented enhancement pattern was INE (110), while slightly less than half of the patients showed invasion of the NEZ (49). Approximately one quarter of the patients presented linear ductal INE (36), while the majority presented patchy INE (74). On CT and PET/CT, NAC enhancement was detectable in almost all patients (102), mainly involving the base and the body together. Correlation analysis in the following pairs of variables showed a high association, with a Kendall’s tau value greater than 0.7 (p < 0.001): (1) involvement of the NEZ on ce-MR and pattern of nipple involvement on ce-CT (CT score); (2) morphological pattern of INE on ce-MR (INE score) and intensity of INE enhancement on MR; and (3) pattern of nipple involvement on ce-CT (CT score) and intensity of INE enhancement on MR. The calculated mean SUV of pathological NACs on PET/CT for early-stage images was 3.59, while the mean SUV of contralateral normal NACs was 2.12. The calculated mean NAC-SUV ratio was 1.7. Conclusions: Although pathological involvement of the NAC cannot always be assessed in the final surgical specimen due to the effects of neoadjuvant chemotherapy, so the “gold standard” of histological reference is missing, MRI and CT with morphology and enhancement descriptors, and additionally PET/CT with SUV measurement can, in our opinion, provide valuable information on the infiltrated nipple. Standardized language for describing breast tumors infiltrating the NAC is desirable to ensure consistent interpretation across different radiologists. Full article

Eczema is the most common skin disease among Hong Kong’s adults and children, affecting an estimated 30% of the total population. Western and Chinese medicinal ointments are the usual treatment for eczema. Conventional Western medicinal ointments are topical corticosteroids and non-steroidal agents. Eczema skin products include “Aveeno Parabens Lotion”, “Cerave Moisturizing Cream”, and “Cetaphil Lotion”. However, these are not a long-term solution for managing significant erythema. Chinese medicinal ointments are based on adjusting the formula, including the ingredients and amount, to address an individual’s skin condition and other factors that may be worsening symptoms. This approach aims to regulate the immune system and make it less reactive to environmental and food allergies. This approach is mainly for local topical use. The ingredients of eczema skin products should include Coptis chinensis Franch, Phellodendron chinense Schneid, Angelica sinensis (Oliv.) Diels, Rehmannia glutinosa Libosch, Curcuma longa L., and sesame oil. Chinese medicinal ointments are natural ingredients, personalized formulas, and concerned with holistic healing, while Western medicinal ointments provide fast-acting relief, targeted action, and a standardized dosage. Methods: Nine electronic databases, such as WanFang Data, PubMed, Science Direct, Scopus, Web of Science, Springer Link, SciFinder, and the China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), were searched mainly within the past twenty years and without any language restrictions. The inclusion criteria were the keywords “Western medicine and ointment”, “Chinese medicine and ointment”, and “Western and Chinese medicines and ointment”. Differences in effectiveness between Western and Chinese ointments were evaluated to determine if they had functions against eczema. This review included an analysis and summary of all relevant papers. Results: Western medicinal ointments are topical corticosteroids, and they exert their pharmacological activities via many mechanisms, including anti-inflammatory, immunosuppressive, antiproliferative, and vasoconstrictive effects on eczema. Similarly, Chinese medicinal ointments have the same pharmacological functions, but they may focus on the immune system for the treatment of inflammatory and skin conditions, including erythema, edema, dryness, desquamation, and callus exfoliation. Conclusion: Based on the clinical research, the effectiveness rate of integrated Chinese and Western medicines was 88%, which was greater than the 70% rate for using Western medicine alone to treat eczema. Western and Chinese medicinal ointments have different active ingredients with advantages and disadvantages for eczema or when acting as skin care products. The most important thing is knowing “How” to use Western and Chinese medicinal ointments properly, especially for some formulations of Chinese ointments. It may be beneficial to consider the pharmacokinetic studies of herbal ingredients, which offer personalized formulas tailored to individual body constitutions and conditions, as well as to emphasize holistic healing, addressing both symptoms and underlying imbalances in the body. Much more work needs to be carried out, such as safety assessments of these ointments for use as skin care products for eczema. Full article

This study explores graph-based methods to model and analyze the semantic interplay between editorial taxonomies and user-generated folksonomies on the PornHub platform, using a dataset of over 97,000 videos (2015–2024). We construct and examine a graph of user-assigned tags and platform-defined categories, applying the Leiden community detection algorithm to uncover latent semantic groupings. To enrich the graph structure, we embed textual metadata using state-of-the-art language models (Qwen3-Embedding-4B and all-MiniLM-L6-v2), enabling the integration of natural language processing within graph-based learning. Our analysis reveals that folksonomies partially align with taxonomies through synonymous structures but also diverge by capturing nuanced attributes such as body features and aesthetic styles. These asymmetries highlight how folksonomies introduce higher-resolution semantic layers absent from fixed-category systems. By fusing graph mining, NLP-driven embeddings, and network-based clustering, this work contributes a hybrid methodology for semantic knowledge extraction in large-scale, user-generated content. It offers implications for graph-based recommendation, content moderation, and metadata enrichment—demonstrating the utility of graph-centric AI techniques in real-world multimedia data settings. Full article

Sensory heritage encompasses culturally valued practices, rituals, and everyday activities experienced through the senses. While sight often dominates, hearing and smelling are generally more immersive and pervasive. Soundscape research is a well-established field within urban studies; however, smellscape remains insufficiently recognised. This study is part of Multimodal Hong Kong, a project aimed at documenting sensory cultural heritage across the city by capturing the complex interplay between soundscape, smellscape, urban experiences, everyday activities, and memory. We investigated the multisensory environment at Wong Tai Sin Temple through acoustic measurements and perceptual ratings of soundscape and smellscape across 197 locations within and around the site. Additionally, semi-structured interviews were conducted with visitors (N = 54, 15,015 words of transcript), which were analysed using content analysis and natural language processing. The results indicate that elevated noise levels mainly arise from human voices and pipe music within the temple compound, as well as traffic noise in the surrounding area. The smell of incense dominates near the temple altars, whereas natural, grassy odours prevail in the adjacent park. Interview responses confirm that incense burning constitutes a traditional religious practice forming a distinctive olfactory marker for Chinese temples, but it is also perceived as having adverse health implications. This study contributes to the growing body of sensory heritage research, underscoring the importance of both soundscape and smellscape in fostering culturally inclusive, vibrant, and sustainable urban environments. Full article

Sign language is a visual language articulated through body movements. Existing approaches predominantly leverage RGB inputs, incurring substantial computational overhead and remaining susceptible to interference from foreground and background noise. A second fundamental challenge lies in accurately modeling the nonlinear temporal dynamics and inherent asynchrony across body parts that characterize sign language sequences. To address these challenges, we propose a novel part-wise graph Fourier learning method for skeleton-based continuous sign language recognition (PGF-SLR), which uniformly models the spatiotemporal relations of multiple body parts in a globally ordered yet locally unordered manner. Specifically, different parts within different time steps are treated as nodes, while the frequency domain attention between parts is treated as edges to construct a part-level Fourier fully connected graph. This enables the graph Fourier learning module to jointly capture spatiotemporal dependencies in the frequency domain, while our adaptive frequency enhancement method further amplifies discriminative action features in a lightweight and robust fashion. Finally, a dual-branch action learning module featuring an auxiliary action prediction branch to assist the recognition branch is designed to enhance the understanding of sign language. Our experimental results show that the proposed PGF-SLR achieved relative improvements of 3.31%/3.70% and 2.81%/7.33% compared to SOTA methods on the dev/test sets of the PHOENIX14 and PHOENIX14-T datasets. It also demonstrated highly competitive recognition performance on the CSL-Daily dataset, showcasing strong generalization while reducing computational costs in both offline and online settings. Full article

Metaphorical instructions are widely used in motor skill learning, yet their impact on learning and memory processes in children remains underexplored. This study examined whether metaphor-based language could enhance children’s acquisition and recall of body posture-related motor skills in an online learning environment. Forty-eight children aged 7 to 9 were randomly assigned to receive either metaphorical or explicit verbal instructions while learning 15 gymnastic postures demonstrated through static images. Following the learning phase, participants completed a free recall task, in which they reproduced the learned postures without cues, and a recognition task involving the identification of previously learned postures. Results indicated that children in the metaphor group recalled significantly more postures than those in the explicit group, with no reduction in movement quality. However, no group differences were observed in recognition accuracy or discrimination sensitivity. These findings suggest that metaphorical instructions may enhance children’s ability to retrieve self-generated motor representations but offer limited advantage when external cues are available. The study provides evidence for the value of metaphor-based strategies in supporting immediate motor memory in digital, child-focused learning settings and highlights the potential task-dependency of instructional language effects on memory outcomes. Full article

Vision–Language Models (VLMs) have become key contributors to the state of the art in contextual emotion recognition, demonstrating a superior ability to understand the relationship between context, facial expressions, and interactions in images compared to traditional approaches. However, their reliance on contextual cues can introduce unintended biases, especially when the background does not align with the individual’s true emotional state. This raises concerns for the reliability of such models in real-world applications, where robustness and fairness are critical. In this work, we explore the limitations of current VLMs in emotionally ambiguous scenarios and propose a method to overcome contextual bias. Existing VLM-based captioning solutions tend to overweight background and contextual information when determining emotion, often at the expense of the individual’s actual expression. To study this phenomenon, we created synthetic datasets by automatically extracting people from the original images using YOLOv8 and placing them on randomly selected backgrounds from the Landscape Pictures dataset. This allowed us to reduce the correlation between emotional expression and background context while preserving body pose. Through discriminative analysis of VLM behavior on images with both correct and mismatched backgrounds, we find that in 93% of the cases, the predicted emotions vary based on the background—even when models are explicitly instructed to focus on the person. To address this, we propose a multimodal approach (named BECKI) that incorporates body pose, full image context, and a novel description stream focused exclusively on identifying the emotional discrepancy between the individual and the background. Our primary contribution is not just in identifying the weaknesses of existing VLMs, but in proposing a more robust and context-resilient solution. Our method achieves up to 96% accuracy, highlighting its effectiveness in mitigating contextual bias. Full article

This study investigates how second language (L2) learners of Spanish identify the regional origin of native Spanish speakers and whether specific phonetic cues predict dialect identification accuracy across proficiency levels. Situated within a growing body of work on sociolinguistic competence, this research addresses the development of learners’ ability to use linguistic forms not only for communication but also for social interpretation. A dialect identification task was administered to 111 American English-speaking learners of Spanish and 19 native Spanish speakers. Participants heard sentence-length stimuli targeting regional phonetic features and selected the speaker’s country of origin. While L2 learners were able to identify regional dialects above chance, accuracy was low and significantly below that of native speakers. Higher-proficiency learners demonstrated improved identification, especially for speakers from Spain and Argentina, and relied more on salient phonetic cues (e.g., [θ], [ʃ]). No significant development was found for identification of Mexican or Puerto Rican varieties. Unlike native speakers, L2 learners did not show sensitivity to broader macrodialect groupings; instead, they frequently defaulted to high-exposure varieties (e.g., Spain, Mexico) regardless of the phonetic cues present. Findings suggest that sociophonetic perception in L2 Spanish develops gradually and unevenly, shaped by cue salience and exposure. Full article

There is a growing body of conversation analytic research on the role of vocalizations and interjections in interaction. This conversation analytic article contributes to this research by comparing the use and functions of the interjection hop(p)la in French and German interaction. While hop(p)la occurs frequently in everyday French and German conversation, it has not been studied as it occurs in real time. The data come from publicly-available data repositories and from the authors’ own collections. Findings show that the use and function of hop(p)la differs from what is described in popular culture publications. In addition, there are differences in the function of hop(p)la as it is used in French and German. The paper discusses the implications of this research for language teaching, translation, and applications in AI. Full article

Background/Objectives: Chemotherapy is an aggressive form of oncological treatment often accompanied by numerous adverse effects. A patient’s baseline status significantly influences the course of therapy, its efficacy, quality of life, and overall survival. This review aims to analyze the published peer-reviewed studies in this area and to assess whether they permit the formulation of preliminary recommendations for future prehabilitation protocols. Methods: An integrative review was conducted due to the limited number of relevant studies. Four databases—MEDLINE/PubMed (Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online/National Library of Medicine), Scopus, Cochrane, and Web of Science—were systematically searched for English-language articles published between 2010 and 13 January 2025, using the terms “prehabilitation,” “chemotherapy,” “drug therapy,” and “neoadjuvant.” A total of 162 records were retrieved. After duplicate removal, titles and abstracts were screened. The remaining papers were subjected to detailed analysis, resulting in ten studies with diverse methodologies being included. Results: We reviewed ten (n = 10) studies, most of which were reviews focused on breast cancer, indicating variation in the state of knowledge across different cancer types. A protein intake of 1.4 g/kg body mass helps preserve fat-free mass, with whey being more effective than casein. Supplementing EPA at a dose of 2.2 g/kg body mass may prevent chemotherapy-related neuro-toxicity and support appetite and weight maintenance. Physical activity, especially when it includes strength training, improves VO₂max, preserves fat-free mass, and may reduce stress and anxiety. We identified one randomized controlled trial in which a single exercise session before the first dose of doxorubicin resulted in a smaller reduction in cardiac function. Continuous psychological support should be available. A combined behavioural and pharmacological approach appears to be the most effective strategy for smoking cessation. Conclusions: No official guidelines exist for prehabilitation before chemotherapy, and the availability of studies on this topic is very limited. The pre-treatment period represents a critical window for interventions. Further research is needed to evaluate the effectiveness and applicability of particularly single-component interventions. Full article

Progress in clinical practice, research, and teaching needs a common language. Agreement among veterinary endocrinologists on definitions of concepts related to Cushing’s syndrome (CS) and hypoadrenocorticism is lacking. After a successful inaugural cycle on diabetes mellitus terminology, project Agreeing Language in Veterinary Endocrinology (ALIVE) held a second cycle, with simplified methodology, and brought together 10 experts of the European Society of Veterinary Endocrinology (ESVE) and the Society of Comparative Endocrinology (SCE). It employed a four-round modified Delphi Method to generate draft definitions and try and achieve consensus. A final round used an endorsement survey of the expert-generated definitions distributed to the ESVE and SCE memberships, seeking a simple majority endorsement. A minimum of 20% membership participation was sought. The 10 experts achieved 100% consensus on the definition of 35 adrenal disease-associated concepts, including disease definitions, diagnostic criteria, and test definitions, a disease classification system for CS and hypoadrenocorticism, and a clinical scoring system for CS. Definitions were subsequently assessed by 78 ESVE and SCE members (26% of combined memberships). All definitions achieved a simple majority, ranging from 83.1 to 100%. ALIVE proved effective in creating a body of terminology for adrenal disease in companion animals, which met the overall approval of a majority of those participating in the endorsement phase. The prospective use of these definitions could help improve comparability and standards for adrenal disease research, education, and clinics. Full article

Sexual dysfunction affects an estimated 50–70% of cancer survivors but remains underrecognized and undertreated, impacting quality of life and emotional well-being. This narrative review involves a comprehensive search of PubMed/MEDLINE, CINAHL, Scopus, Web of Science, and ScienceDirect for English-language publications (January 2010–May 2025), using combined MeSH and free-text terms for ‘sexual health’, ‘cancer’, ‘nursing’, ‘roles of nurses’, ‘immunotherapy’, ‘targeted therapy’, ‘sexual health’, ‘sexual dysfunction’, ‘vaginal dryness’, ‘genitourinary syndrome of menopause’, ‘sexual desire’, ‘body image’, ‘erectile dysfunction’, ‘climacturia’, ‘ejaculatory disorders’, ‘dyspareunia’, and ‘oncology’. We used the IMRAD (Introduction, Methods, Results, and Discussion) approach to identify 1245 records and screen titles and abstracts. Fifty studies ultimately met the inclusion criteria (original research, reviews, and clinical guidelines on oncology nursing and sexual health). Results: All the treatments contributed to reduced libido, erectile dysfunction, dyspareunia, and body image concerns, with a prevalence of 57.5% across genders. Oncology nurses can provide sex education and counseling. Barriers (limited training, cultural stigma, and the absence of protocols) hinder effective intervention. Addressing these issues through sexual health curricula, formal referral systems, and policy reforms can enhance nursing care. Future research should assess the impact of targeted nurse education and the institutional integration of sexual health into cancer care. Full article

Background: Eating disorders (EDs) and self-harm (SH) are both associated with distress, poor psychosocial functioning, and increased risk of mortality. Much of the literature discusses the complex interplay between SH and ED behaviours where co-occurrence is common. The onset of both is typically seen during teenage years into early adulthood. A better understanding of the functions of these behaviours is needed to guide effective prevention and treatment, particularly during the crucial developmental years. An earlier review has explored the functions of self-harm, but an equivalent review for eating disorder behaviours does not appear to have been completed. Objectives: This evidence synthesis had two objectives. First, to identify and synthesise published first-hand accounts of the reasons why people engage in eating disorder behaviours with the view to develop a broad theoretical framework of functions. Second, to draw comparisons between the functions of eating disorder behaviours and self-harm. Methods: A qualitative evidence synthesis reporting first-hand accounts of the reasons for engaging in eating disorder behaviours. A ‘best fit’ framework synthesis, using the a priori framework from the review of self-harm functions, was undertaken with thematic analysis to categorise responses. Results: Following a systematic search and rigorous screening process, 144 studies were included in the final review. The most commonly reported functions of eating disorder behaviours were distress management (affect regulation) and interpersonal influence. This review identified significant overlap in functions between self-harm and eating disorder behaviours. Gender identity, responding to food insecurity, to delay growing up and responding to weight, shape, and body ideals were identified as functions more salient to eating disorder behaviours. Similarly, some self-harm functions were not identified in the eating disorder literature. These were experimenting, averting suicide, personal language, and exploring/maintaining boundaries. Conclusions: This evidence synthesis identified a prominent overlap between psychological functions of eating disorder behaviours and self-harm, specifically in relation to distress management (affect regulation). Despite clear overlap in certain areas, some functions were found to be distinct to each behaviour. The implications for delivering and adapting targeted interventions are discussed. Full article

Background/Objectives: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a multifactorial endocrine disorder frequently associated with metabolic and inflammatory disturbances. Due to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, pomegranate juice has been proposed as a potential adjunctive therapy in managing PCOS. To evaluate the effects of pomegranate juice on hormonal, inflammatory, and lipid parameters and body mass index (BMI) in women with PCOS. Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) was conducted following PRISMA guidelines. Comprehensive searches were performed in electronic databases including Medline, Scopus, Web of Science, Cochrane CENTRAL, and Embase from inception to July 2025, using keywords and MeSH terms related to “polycystic ovary syndrome” and “pomegranate juice” without language restrictions. The primary outcomes were changes in serum testosterone, luteinizing hormone (LH), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), lipid profile parameters (HDL, LDL, triglycerides, and total cholesterol), and body mass index (BMI). Results: Four RCTs published between 2020 and 2023, encompassing 128 women with PCOS, were included. The meta-analysis revealed significant reductions in testosterone (MD: −0.05; 95% CI: −0.07 to −0.03; p < 0.0001; I² = 0%, two studies, 85 participants) and hs-CRP (SMD: −0.85; 95% CI: −1.35 to −0.35; p = 0.0009; I² = 20%, two studies, 85 participants), along with increases in HDL (MD: 6.21; 95% CI: 2.43 to 10.00; p = 0.001; I² = 0%, two studies, 85 participants) and reductions in triglycerides (MD: −23.30; 95% CI: −45.19 to −1.42; p = 0.04; I² = 0%, two studies, 85 participants). No significant changes were observed in LH, LDL, total cholesterol, or BMI. Conclusions: Pomegranate juice demonstrates promising effects as an adjunctive intervention in women with PCOS, improving androgen levels, inflammatory markers, and certain lipid parameters. Further long-term studies are needed to confirm these findings. Full article

Background and Objectives: The management of type 2 diabetes (T2D) extends beyond glycemic control, requiring a more global strategy that includes optimization of body composition, even more so in the context of sarcopenia and visceral adiposity, as they contribute to poor outcomes. Past reviews have typically been focused on weight reduction or glycemic effectiveness, with limited inclusion of new therapies’ effects on muscle and fat distribution. In addition, the emergence of incretin-based therapies and dual agonists such as tirzepatide requires an updated synthesis of their impacts on body composition. This review attempts to bridge the gap by taking a systematic approach to how current blood-glucose lowering therapies affect lean body mass, fat mass, and the risk of sarcopenia in T2D patients. Materials and Methods: Between January 2015 and March 2025, we conducted a narrative review by searching the PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases for English-language articles. The keywords were combinations of the following: “type 2 diabetes,” “lean body mass,” “fat mass,” “body composition,” “sarcopenia,” “GLP-1 receptor agonists,” “SGLT2 inhibitors,” “tirzepatide,” and “antidiabetic pharmacotherapy.” Reference lists were searched manually as well. The highest precedence was assigned to studies that aimed at adult type 2 diabetic subjects and reported body composition results. Inclusion criteria for studies were: (1) type 2 diabetic mellitus adult patients and (2) reporting measures of body composition (e.g., lean body mass, fat mass, or muscle function). We prioritized randomized controlled trials and large observational studies and excluded mixed diabetic populations, non-pharmacological interventions only, and poor reporting of body composition. Results: Metformin was widely found to be weight-neutral with minimal effects on muscle mass. Insulin therapy, being an anabolic hormone, often leads to fat mass accumulation and increases the risk of sarcopenic obesity. Incretin-based therapies induced substantial weight loss, mostly from fat mass. Notable results were observed in studies with tirzepatide, demonstrating superior reduction not only in fat mass, but also in visceral fat. Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2 inhibitors) promote fat loss but are associated with a small yet significant decrease in lean muscle mass. Conclusions: Blood-glucose lowering therapies demonstrated clinically relevant effects on body composition. Treatment should be personalized, balancing glycemic control, cardiovascular, and renal benefits, together with optimal impact on muscle mass along with glycemic, cardiovascular, and renal benefits. Full article