This study investigates the distribution of fingerprint minutiae types in boys with autism spectrum disorder (N = 48, aged between 2.75 and 12.92 years; SD = 2.56) compared to neurotypical boys (N = 46, aged between 2.75 and 12.33 years; SD = 2.88), with the aim of gaining insights into atypical developmental processes. The analysis focused on differences in the total number and types of minutiae across two areas of the fingerprint. To ensure comparability between fingerprints of different sizes, the analyzed area was standardized using fixed ridge-count boundaries (6th and 12th papillary ridges from the pattern center). Minutiae types were extracted manually from dactyloscopic cards under high resolution. Results showed no significant difference in the total number of minutiae across all fingers; however, notable differences were observed on the fourth finger (p = 0.00157) and in specific minutiae types. Boys with ASD showed a higher incidence of types like fragments, dots, and breaks in the central area (p < 0.00001), while neurotypical boys exhibited more enclosures. These findings suggest that the distribution and types of fingerprint minutiae could be potential markers for neurodevelopmental differences, as they indicate a disruption in the normal developmental pathways. Many studies support the idea that there's a link between fingerprint patterns and how the brain develops, especially when something goes wrong during that process. This connection exists because fingerprints and some central parts of the brain form at the same time during early development, and they both come from the same type of early tissue. Because of this, fingerprints can give us clues about possible changes or problems in brain development. They can also be helpful for identifying certain genetic conditions or birth defects. This study looked at the tiny details found in fingerprints, called minutiae, in autistic boys compared to boys who are developing typically. Fingerprint minutiae are small features like dots, breaks, or lines that form before birth and stay the same for life. Because they are shaped early in development, studying them may help us learn more about how development in autism might differ. These results suggest that fingerprint patterns could reflect subtle differences in how the body and brain develop in autism. In the future, fingerprint analysis might help scientists understand early developmental differences linked to autism spectrum disorder.
Alopecia areata (AA) may involve the scalp, eyebrows, eyelashes and nails. Janus kinase inhibitors (JAKi) have transformed its management, but non-scalp domains, especially nails, are seldom assessed systematically outside trials. To describe nail, eyebrow and eyelash response alongside scalp response during JAKi therapy, using validated instruments at fixed intervals in routine care. Single-centre retrospective cohort of 18 consecutive patients with moderate-to-severe AA starting baricitinib 4 mg (n = 13) or ritlecitinib 50 mg (n = 5) between June 2024 and June 2025. The scalp endpoint was an absolute SALT score ≤ 10. Nail, eyebrow and eyelash involvement was graded with the validated ClinRO instruments; response was a ≥ 1-point improvement, independent of the scalp outcome. Nails were affected in 9/18 patients (trachyonychia 8/9, pitting 4/9), eyebrows in 11/18 and eyelashes in 9/18. Every evaluable patient improved in every affected domain. Improvement was earliest in eyelashes (median 3 months) and eyebrows (4.5 months), latest in nails (9 months, range 3–18). SALT ≤ 10 was reached at least once by 14/18. Adverse events occurred in 3/18; none discontinued. Structured nail grading is feasible in routine care and captures a frequent manifestation of AA that improves later than non-scalp hair. Nail outcomes merit inclusion in larger prospective studies.
This study aimed to evaluate the impact of chronic social isolation on the behavioral profile of male and female Wistar rats within a ketamine (Ket)-induced model of schizophrenia. A total of 144 adult Wistar rats (male and female) were divided into four experimental groups per sex: (1) Socialized + Saline (Sal) (Control group); (2) Socialized + Ket; (3) Isolated + Sal (Isolated group); (4) Isolated + Ket. Rats in the isolated groups were housed individually from postnatal day 60 (PND 60) for eight weeks. Ket (25 mg/kg, i.p.) was administered for seven consecutive days. Behavioral assessments included the open field test (OFT), elevated plus maze (EPM), and splash test (ST), and data were analyzed by three-way ANOVA (sex × isolation × Ket) followed by Tukey’s post hoc test. In the OFT, Ket increased locomotor activity in both sexes and reduced rearing, with this reduction being more pronounced in females. Isolation also reduced rearing. In the EPM, females spent more time in the open arms than males, and isolation was associated with reduced open-arm exploration only in females. In the ST, isolation increased the latency to initiate grooming and reduced the number of grooming events. No significant interaction between isolation and Ket was observed for any of the parameters analyzed. In conclusion, Ket and social isolation produced distinct and largely independent effects on behavioral domains relevant to schizophrenia, some of which were sex-dependent, and their combination did not yield a synergistic effect. These findings highlight the importance of including both sexes in the characterization of animal models relevant to schizophrenia.
To examine longitudinal associations between body composition and cardiometabolic markers in men living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) receiving stable antiretroviral therapy. This prospective observational study included 143 men assessed at baseline and at 6, 12, and 18 months. Body composition was estimated using bioelectrical impedance analysis. Adjusted linear mixed-effects models separated within-patient changes from between-patient differences. Associations were evaluated after false discovery rate correction. An exploratory analysis compared body-fat percentage with body mass index (BMI) for lipid outcomes. Among 143 men, within-patient decreases in body-fat percentage were associated with lower total, LDL, and calculated VLDL cholesterol, triglycerides, fasting glucose, uric acid, and systolic and diastolic blood pressure after false discovery rate correction. Decreases in visceral fat index were associated with the same outcomes except uric acid. Increases in estimated absolute skeletal-muscle mass, conditional on concurrent weight change, were associated with lower total cholesterol, uric acid, and diastolic blood pressure. In exploratory analyses, body-fat percentage retained associations with total, LDL, and calculated VLDL cholesterol and triglycerides after accounting for concurrent BMI change; however, superior cross-validated predictive performance compared with BMI was not established. Within-patient reductions in adiposity were associated with favourable changes in cardiometabolic markers among men living with HIV receiving stable ART. The clinical utility of bioimpedance-derived body-composition measures requires further validation.
Numerous clival variations have been described; however, certain entities remain poorly characterised, particularly the median basilar canal (MBC) and the recently described basilar tubercles of the clivus (BTC). This study documented prevalence, morphology, and selected linear metric analysis in a historical skeletal collection housed in the United Kingdom. A total of 161 dry skulls with intact clival regions were examined; their geographic and population origin, chronology, ancestry, age, and sex were unknown. Variations assessed were the MBC, BTC and other variations of the clivus including the fossa navicularis magna (FNM), basilar processes (BP), condylus tertius (CT), and prebasioccipital arch (PA). The MBC and BTC were further classified into subtypes. Linear metric analysis was performed for selected variations, and inter-observer reliability was assessed. The MBC was the most common variation (24/161, 14.9
