Effectiveness of Indapamide Prolonged‐Release and Perindopril Versus Perindopril Monotherapy for Treated Uncontrolled Hypertension: A Target Trial Emulation

ABSTRACT Objective To assess the effectiveness of indapamide prolonged release and perindopril in combination using blood pressure (BP) records collected in routine practice. Methods Using a target trial emulation framework, an observational retrospective cohort study was conducted. The data source was the United Kingdom's CPRD Aurum general practice database. Adults with systolic BP (SBP) ≥ 145 mmHg treated with perindopril 4/5 mg for ≥ 4 weeks at a stable dose who either added indapamide 1.5 mg to perindopril ( n  = 193) or continued on perindopril monotherapy ( n  = 14 571) were included. Balance between treatment arms was achieved with propensity score matching; results were explored in additional analyses using different eligibility criteria and alternative statistical methodologies. The primary outcome was change in SBP from baseline to Week 8 between indapamide added to perindopril versus perindopril monotherapy. Results In the primary analysis, indapamide added to perindopril yielded an additional SBP reduction of −6.3 mmHg (95% confidence interval [CI] −8.7 to −3.9) over perindopril monotherapy at Week 8. Results of additional analyses were consistent with the main analysis, but effect estimates varied due to diverse underlying assumptions. Conclusions Target trial emulation allowed assessment of antihypertensive treatment effectiveness, and indapamide plus perindopril yielded clinically meaningful decreases in SBP over perindopril monotherapy. Secondary and sensitivity analyses support that these findings were robust.

Development and Psychometric Testing of a Scale Evaluating Traditional Health Practices for Cervical Cancer Prevention Among Haitian Migrant Women

ABSTRACT Objective Haitian migrant women experience disproportionate rates of cervical cancer. Cultural worldviews have been implicated as a factor influencing cervical cancer behaviors. However, no validated or reliable scale has been developed to measure the influence of cultural worldviews on cervical cancer risk and behaviors in this community. Methods We detail the original development and psychometric testing of the Traditional Health Practices for Cervical Cancer Prevention Scale (THP‐CCP). A total of N  = 151 Haitian women who recently migrated to the U.S. participated in the study. Scale items were newly developed based on qualitative interviews conducted by our team. Items were administered to participants, and the scale's construct validity, reliability, and concurrent validity were evaluated. We hypothesized that the scale would be associated with women's education levels and superstitious beliefs toward cancer, which we tested with an ANOVA and Pearson's correlation. Results A total of 30 items were developed in Haitian Creole and were evaluated by an expert panel of reviewers. Factor analysis yielded a one‐factor solution consisting of 11‐items interpreted as traditional health practices and cultural beliefs influencing cervical cancer risk and behaviors. The total scale Cronbach's alpha reliability coefficient was 0.79. The THP‐CCP scores demonstrated concurrent validity with women's education level ( F  = 3.56, p  = 0.031) and superstitious beliefs toward cancer ( r  = 0.26, p value = 0.001). Conclusion The THP‐CCP scale demonstrated strong psychometric properties and can assist researchers in better understanding cultural influences toward engagement in cervical cancer prevention behaviors among Haitian women.

Genomic architecture of the resistance to Phytophthora cactorum 2 ( RPc2 ) locus in strawberry ( Fragaria × ananassa )

Abstract Phytophthora crown rot, caused by Phytophthora cactorum , is a soilborne disease with broad impacts on cultivated strawberry ( Fragaria × ananassa ). A resistance locus, RPc2 , was previously identified in octoploid strawberries, but the underlying genomic architecture and causal genes remained uncharacterized. In this study, we fine‐mapped RPc2 from a 1.12 Mb interval to a 546 kb region containing 92 genes by genotyping an association panel of 339 accessions with high‐resolution subgenome‐specific markers. To discover candidate genes, a chromosome‐scale haplotype‐phased genome of the resistant breeding line FL16.33‐8 was assembled and validated with a high‐density genetic map and comparative analyses with high‐quality phased octoploid reference genomes, Florida Brilliance and Royal Royce. Transcriptome profiling following pathogen inoculation combined with comparative genomics identified wall‐associated kinase 1 ( WAK1 ) and cyclic nucleotide‐gated channel ( CNGC1 CNGC2 ) as strong candidates within the RPc2 region. Using an efficient Agrobacterium ‐mediated transient expression assay, we confirmed their role in resistance to P . cactorum in strawberry. RNA interference knockdown of these genes increased disease severity, while overexpression of WAK1 or CNGC1 reduced crown rot symptoms in susceptible backgrounds. Furthermore, population analyses of 1029 global accessions revealed that the predominant‐resistant haplotype ( RPc2 ‐ H3 ) is common in modern cultivars and shows evidence of positive selection in breeding programs. Taken together, our study refines the genomic region of RPc2 , identifies and functionally validates WAK1 and CNGC1/2 for the resistance to Phytophthora crown rot, and demonstrates that RPc2‐H3 has been selected globally. These findings from this study would facilitate the advancement of genome‐assisted breeding strategies for resistance to Phytophthora crown rot in strawberry.

Should Elective TIPS be Placed in Non‐Abstinent Patients With Alcohol‐Related Cirrhosis?

The Bonds of Kinship in Dahomey: Portraits of West African Girlhood, 1720–1940 by Jessica Catherine Reuther, Bloomington, Indiana University Press, 2025, 280 pp.

We’re More Than Just Black History Month: A Visual Culture Audit of a Dual Language Diverse-by-Design School

Diverse-by-design schools—educational institutions that explicitly name diversity as part of their mission statement—comprise an increasing number of state authorized schools in the United States and have consequently shifted school design in the K–12 school sector. Through a qualitative data collection, including a visual culture audit, this paper highlights how one dual language school, despite its diverse-by-design mission, did not recognize Black students until February during U.S. Black History Month. It examines implications of the disjuncture between diverse-by-design rhetoric and actual practices.

‘All children have a skateboards’. Differences between the grammaticality of reading mistakes of monolingual and bilingual elementary school children

Linguistic abilities are vital for reading. Due to the complementary principle, arbitrary and partly rule-governed linguistic knowledge and structures are more challenging for bilingual than monolingual children. It is conceivable that this difference also influences the reading process of bilingual children and leads to different types of mistakes made while reading compared to monolingual children. The present study explores potential differences between bilingual Turkish-German and monolingual German students from grades three and four in elementary school ( n  = 87) in regard to the grammaticality of reading mistakes while reading aloud. Using secondary data, bilingual students were matched pairwise to the monolingual students on the basis of oral reading fluency to ensure equal reading abilities before surface features and grammaticality of reading mistakes were analysed with an adaptation of Reading Miscue Analysis. MANOVAs comparing Turkish-German bilingual and German monolingual students indicate significant differences concerning the grammaticality of mistakes made: Monolinguals produced more reading mistakes preserving grammaticality, while bilinguals produced more mistakes violating grammaticality. Moreover, post-hoc tests showed that both groups differ significantly in omissions leading to mistakes preserving or violating grammaticality. Potential causes for these differences as well as the adequacy of the adaptation of Reading Miscue Analysis will be discussed.

Rising beliefs but descending self-efficacy when preparing in-service teachers for linguistically responsive teaching – insights from a longitudinal intervention study

Fostering teacher beliefs (TB) and self-efficacy (TSE) towards multilingualism in class is key for the successful implementation of linguistically responsive teaching (LRT) aiming to support multilingual students, who are often disadvantaged in class. However, TB and TSE towards multilingualism have not been examined together within a longitudinal LRT intervention. Therefore, 44 teachers were trained in a professional development (PD) workshop about LRT, which they then implemented in their regular German classes. TB and TSE were measured longitudinally (TB pre-PD, post-PD and post-implementation, TSE post-PD and post-implementation). TB significantly improved through PD and remained stable during implementation, while TSE significantly decreased, probably due to unexpected challenges to motivate multilingual students to use their family languages. TB and TSE were moderately correlated when measured at the same time. Longitudinally, post-PD TSE had a positive effect on post-implementation TB when controlling for post-PD TM, but post-PD TB had no effect on post-implementation TSE when controlling for post-PD TSE. Overall, TB remained positive during the implementation of LRT without decreasing along with TSE. Hence, this study makes optimistic for improving TB through PD, but also emphasises that TSE needs further support during implementation.

Expanding the Archive of Butoh Dance History and Philosophy through Oral Storytelling And Embodied Transmission By Dominique Savitri Bonarjee. 294 pp. Illustrated. Routledge, 2025.$152.00 hardcover, $43.99, paperback. ISBN978-0367631192 (hardcover), ISBN978-0367631215 (paperback), ISBN 978-1003112211 (ebook)

The Silent Struggle: Understanding Factors Influencing Veterans’ Mental Healthcare-Seeking Behaviour Through an Integrative Review

Despite the availability of evidence-based treatments, many United States veterans do not seek or complete mental healthcare when needed, which contributes to adverse outcomes such as chronic mental illness, substance misuse, and suicide. This integrative review aims to identify and synthesize the multidimensional factors that influence mental healthcare-seeking behaviours among veterans. A systematic search and synthesis of 43 peer-reviewed studies was conducted using an integrative review search. Studies were analysed to extract recurring patterns and themes related to veterans’ engagement with mental health services. Five major themes emerged: military culture, need for care, barriers to care, facilitators to care, and veteran-specific care. A complex interaction of personal, cultural, and structural factors shapes veterans’ mental healthcare-seeking behaviours. Addressing these barriers and enhancing facilitators through tailored interventions, culturally competent care models, and policy reforms is critical to improving access, engagement, and mental health outcomes among the veteran population.