Lars Research Institute

Introduction:Height is an important psychosocial indicator, with short stature linked to a poorer quality of life. This study investigates public perceptions and attitudes toward cosmetic stature lengthening, a surgical procedure designed to increase individuals' height without a standard necessity.Methods:Using a mixed-methods approach, an online general population sample was surveyed using a crowdsourcing platform (Prolific Academic), which facilitates demographically representative samples. Societal influences, personal attitudes, and awareness of the procedure were explored.Results:Our quantitative analysis revealed a distinct demographic and psychological profile for individuals more inclined toward the procedure, with self-perception of being short, believing height threatens career progression, and being male as notable factors. The primary motivating factor in these individuals was the range of potential height increase, whereas the most common deterrents were potential complications and weight-bearing status. Qualitative findings highlighted themes of negativity toward the procedure, concerns about pain and recovery time, acceptance of personal physical appearance, and empathy toward height-related distress.Discussion:These findings underscore the need for public education, policy considerations, and multidisciplinary patient evaluation processes for cosmetic stature lengthening. Future research should focus on the short- and long-term physical and psychosocial effects to contribute to evidence-based patient education and informed consent.

Objective: Despite a growing emphasis on holistic student wellness in higher education, sexual well-being often remains neglected as part of wellness. We conducted a website content review to assess the broad utilization of wellness models and the specific integration of sexual well-being into wellness programs. Methods and results: Targeting 51 flagship and top 50 private institutions, we found that 82.35% of flagships and 64.00% of top private institutions mentioned some form of the wellness model. However, integration of the wellness model into on-campus or local resources varied considerably across institutions. Importantly, only two institutions (both private) addressed sexuality as its own unique dimension of wellness. Conclusion: The current study underscores the need for wellness programs to include a focus on sexual well-being. Skills and knowledge that college students learn through wellness programs can help them make better health decisions and improve their quality of life while in college and beyond.

La technologie moderne crée la capacité de voir et d’agir à l’échelle où, pourvu qu’on ne les aide pas, les sens humains n’ont aucun pouvoir. La combinaison d’une distance infranchissable entre l’homme et la technique avec un réel pouvoir qu’a la technique sur la condition de l’homme, caractérise, non seulement les technologies émergentes comme les nanotechnologies, mais aussi la théologie, qui explore une réalité divine postulée. Nous utilisons cette analogie anthropologique afin d’analyser le fonctionnement des images et noms technologiques dans la société.

The Modeling Language for Interaction as Conversation (MoLIC) is an epistemic tool inspired by Semiotic Engineering to model (human-computer) interaction through diagrams. MoLVERIC check (MCheck) is a diagram inspection technique developed for MoLIC, whose objective is to identify defects that would propagate in the modeled system's implementation and become communication interruptions. In this sense, this article is an experience report of evaluating a massive open online course (MOOC) environment through MoLIC, and predicting the quality of interaction to mitigate disruptions of metacommunication by MCheck. Although MCheck supports the inspection of MoLIC diagrams, in this article, we noticed the lack of MoLIC elements in the MCheck, indicating that this technique needs to evolve.

Review question / Objective: The search terms used for this review were constructed using the PICOS framework: (1) population were people in general of both genders and any age, (2) studies based on digital technologies used in football sportive events, (3) comparisons made in the domains of motivation, interaction, satisfaction and interest, (4) data reporting the use of digital tools (studies with no results reported will be considered, besides not having outcomes), (5) Intervention studies with a pre and post-test design, descriptive studies, theorical studies, and protocol proposals, and (6) articles written in English, Spanish or Portuguese. Condition being studied: Our concern is with the acceptance of the fans returning to the stadium with normality after a pandemic period. In addition, we also want to understand what kind of interactive applications are already on the market or with their well defined protocols that intend to increase fan interaction at live games, increasing their motivation to go to the stadium and to have accurate and updated live information.

Adherence to the MD was associated with better WM capacity in primary school children. These findings can be used to guide policymakers in designing health promotion programs and instituting policies emphasizing healthy nutrition to improve physical health and boost cognitive functioning. •The development of working memory involves the entire childhood with a rapid spurt between 2 and 8 years of age. • Working memory plays a critical role in children's learning and academic performance and underlies higher-order cognitive abilities. •Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet was associated with higher working memory capacity in primary school children. • Health promotion interventions based on PA and sound nutrition involving children benefit not only physical and mental health, but also cognitive health.

This chapter builds on Hansen and Scheier by further examining the intersection of game-based learning and digital health promotion apps. The intersection of digital technology and health promotion is an intriguing space given that cost-effective technologies backed by strong theory and implementation science can advance health promotion strategies. Gamification extends asynchronous computer-mediated communication by creating a sense of immersion in the virtual space, socially interacting, and experiencing strong social identifications. This produces feelings of “flow” reported as a stoppage of time and mitigating surrounding intrusive events. Avatars provide pedagogical supports to increase situational awareness, deepening their presence in the digital game world. Players can learn from these interactions, building rapport and developing social connections that might otherwise not be possible in different contexts. Gamified digital technology capitalizes on instructional technology, learning theory, and social identification in ways that can advance health behavior change.

Introduction: Beta-blocker treatment represents a cornerstone in reducing risk of malignant ventricular arrhythmias among cLQTS patients (class Ib recommendation). We examined long-term beta-blocker adherence, risk factors associated with poor beta-blocker adherence, and its potential impact on mortality among cLQTS patients. Methods: All Danish cLQTS patients claiming a prescription for a beta-blocker within the first year after the cLQTS diagnosis were identified using nationwide registries and specialized inherited cardiac disease clinics (1995-2017). Patients were followed for up to five years. Treatment breaks >30 days, >60 days, and >90 days were identified. Risk factors of treatment breaks >60 days (i.e. proxy for poor adherence) and mortality, after cLQTS diagnosis, were assessed using multivariable cox regression. Results: Overall, 431/633 (68%) cLQTS patients claimed a prescription for a beta-blocker within the first year after cLQTS diagnosis (median age=38 years, IQR: 17-50 years; and 63.8% female). During follow-up, cLQTS patients with treatment breaks >30 days, >60 days, and >90 days comprised 50.1%, 40.0%, and 31.6%, respectively. Overall, 10/431 (2.3%) cLQTS patients in beta-blocker treatment died (median age=63 years, IQR: 49-79 years). Of these, ≤3 had a treatment break >30 days before time of death (HR=0.4, 95%CI: 0.03-2.9). Risk factors significantly associated with treatment break >60 days were self-reported beta-blocker side effects (HR=3.0, 95%CI: 1.9-4.7) and psychiatric disease (HR=1.8, 95%CI: 1.1-2.9) (figure). Conclusion: More than one-third of cLQTS patients had at least one beta-blocker treatment break >60 days. Moreover, cLQTS patients experiencing beta-blocker side effects or having known psychiatric disease were more likely to display poor beta-blocker adherence. Treatment breaks were not readily associated with mortality, but numbers were low. Figure: Risk factors associated with >60 days treatment break.

High levels of lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)], an apoB100-containing lipoprotein, are an independent and causal risk factor for atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases through mechanisms associated with increased atherogenesis, inflammation, and thrombosis. Lp(a) is predominantly a monogenic cardiovascular risk determinant, with ≈70% to ≥90% of interindividual heterogeneity in levels being genetically determined. The 2 major protein components of Lp(a) particles are apoB100 and apolipoprotein(a). Lp(a) remains a risk factor for cardiovascular disease development even in the setting of effective reduction of plasma low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and apoB100. Despite its demonstrated contribution to atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease burden, we presently lack standardization and harmonization of assays, universal guidelines for diagnosing and providing risk assessment, and targeted treatments to lower Lp(a). There is a clinical need to understand the genetic and biological basis for variation in Lp(a) levels and its relationship to disease in different ancestry groups. This scientific statement capitalizes on the expertise of a diverse basic science and clinical workgroup to highlight the history, biology, pathophysiology, and emerging clinical evidence in the Lp(a) field. Herein, we address key knowledge gaps and future directions required to mitigate the atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease risk attributable to elevated Lp(a) levels.

Optimism is associated with reduced cardiovascular disease risk; however, few prospective studies have considered optimism in relation to hypertension risk specifically. We investigated whether optimism was associated with a lower risk of developing hypertension in U.S. service members, who are more likely to develop high blood pressure early in life. We also evaluated race/ethnicity, sex and age as potential effect modifiers of these associations. Participants were 103 486 hypertension-free U.S. Army active-duty soldiers (mean age 28.96 years, 61.76% White, 20.04% Black, 11.01% Hispanic, 4.09% Asian, and 3.10% others). We assessed optimism, sociodemographic characteristics, health conditions, health behaviours and depression status at baseline (2009-2010) via self-report and administrative records, and ascertained incident hypertension over follow-up (2010-2014) from electronic health records and health assessments. We used Cox proportional hazards regression models to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs), and adjusted models for a broad range of relevant covariates. Over a mean follow-up of 3.51 years, 15 052 incident hypertension cases occurred. The highest v. lowest optimism levels were associated with a 22% reduced risk of developing hypertension, after adjusting for all covariates including baseline blood pressure (HR = 0.78; 95% CI = 0.74-0.83). The difference in hypertension risk between the highest v. lowest optimism was also maintained when we excluded soldiers with hypertension in the first two years of follow-up and, separately, when we excluded soldiers with prehypertension at baseline. A dose-response relationship was evident with higher optimism associated with a lower relative risk (p < 0.001). Higher optimism was consistently associated with a lower risk of developing hypertension across sex, age and most race/ethnicity categories. In a diverse cohort of initially healthy male and female service members particularly vulnerable to developing hypertension, higher optimism levels were associated with reduced hypertension risk independently of sociodemographic and health factors, a particularly notable finding given the young and healthy population. Results suggest optimism is a health asset and a potential target for public health interventions.