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  • Govt Assessing Option to Lift Ban on Gas Connections – ProPakistani

    1. Govt Assessing Option to Lift Ban on Gas Connections  ProPakistani
    2. Govt mulls lifting ban on gas connections amid LNG glut  Dawn
    3. Pakistan faces risk of LNG glut, warns minister  Geo.tv
    4. LNG surplus forces govt to rethink 15-year gas connection ban  Daily Times
    5. Pakistan re-sells LNG cargoes amid falling gas-burn  Gas to Power Journal

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  • Adam Levine shares hilarious pet purchasing anecdote for Behati Prinsloo

    Adam Levine shares hilarious pet purchasing anecdote for Behati Prinsloo

    Adam Levine recalls funny prank of Blake Shelton

    Maroon 5 member Adam Levine has just now opened about a hilarious anecdote about purchasing a pet for his then-girlfriend, Behati Prinsloo.

    While appearing for an interview on Sean Evans’ Hot Ones podcast, he candidly recalled that he was pranked by his friend, Blake Shelton.

    “My now-wife, then-brand-new girlfriend, she said she really wanted a teacup pig,” the Girls Like You singer began by saying.

    Recalling the conversation with his friend, he continued, “And I didn’t know what that was, but of course the first person I would ask [would be Shelton]… So I asked Blake. I’m like, ‘What’s a teacup pig?’ He’s like, ‘I’ll get you a teacup pig. Yeah, give me five grand.’”

    “We had to give it to a little girl on a farm. We’re like, ‘Send us pictures! We can’t wait to not be responsible for this animal anymore! Just show us pictures!’” Levine told the host.

    “She sends us a picture like six months later and the pig is like 400 pounds. I’m like, ‘Dude, what if this animal had grown to be this big in my house?!’” the three-times Grammy winner added.

    Revealing Shelton tricked him into spending $5000 on a small pig for his girlfriend, he continued, “I’m just like, ‘Blake, bro, $5,000 for a pig that wasn’t a micro pig?’”

    “And he’s like, ‘You’re an idiot! There’s no such thing as f—ing teacup pigs, you dumbass!’ So that was a pretty good prank that he played on me,” the 46-year-old singer concluded.

    For those unversed, Adam Levine and Behati Prinsloo tied the knot in July 2014, and the couple shares three children.


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  • SBP pumps Rs13 trillion into banks to calm liquidity jitters

    SBP pumps Rs13 trillion into banks to calm liquidity jitters





    SBP pumps Rs13 trillion into banks to calm liquidity jitters – Daily Times


































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  • Bladder Erosion and stone formation: a rare complication of laparoscopic cervical cerclage | BMC Women’s Health

    Bladder Erosion and stone formation: a rare complication of laparoscopic cervical cerclage | BMC Women’s Health

    In this case, the Mersilene tape caused penetration of the cervix resulting in erosion of the bladder and subsequent calculi formation, leading to symptoms of urinary tract infection. However, the site of penetration was not associated with bladder rupture or fistula formation. In previous case reports, there have been reports of the cerclage line eroding organs or forming genital fistulas after vaginal or abdominal cerclage. The vaginal cerclage methods include the McDonald method and the Shirodkar method. The latter requires a higher suture position and requires stripping the overlying bladder peritoneum to avoid the Mersilene tape adhering to the bladder. Based on the surgeon’s customary practices, the placement of the knot of the cerclage line in front or behind the cervix is determined. Theoretically, anterior positioning of the knot may result in bladder erosion, whether posterior positioning may lead to rectal erosion. To date, there have been no documented cases of rectal erosion caused by the cerclage line. The potential impact of positioning the knot of the cerclage line behind the uterus on the reduction of significant erosive complications necessitates further investigation. Laveaux et al. [6] reported a case of intermittent vaginal bleeding following Shirodkar cerclage, in which the cerclage line was cut inside the cervical canal and a bladder-cervix fistula was formed. The symptoms disappeared following surgical intervention and removal of the sutures. The cause of this rare complication may be related to the Mersilene tape buried in the cervix, gradually eroding the cervix, and then eroding the urinary tract epithelium. Similarly, Golomb et al. [7] reported a case of bladder-cervix fistula formation after Shirodkar cerclage, with the primary clinical manifestation being urinary incontinence. After removing the cerclage line, bladder drainage was performed to promote the healing process of the fistula, and the patient’s condition improved. Bladder-cervix fistula was previously mistakenly thought to be a complication unique to Shirodkar cerclage, and there have been reports of two cases of bladder-cervix fistula formation after McDonald cerclage [9]. In one of the cases, the cerclage line was removed as scheduled one year after the surgery, and the remaining cerclage fragments were removed urgently ten years later due to repeated symptoms such as difficulty urinating, hematuria, and frequent urination during which bladder calculi were found. Multiple sutures of lines were found at the bottom of the bladder. It is speculated that even after the second attempt to remove the cerclage line, the suture material was still retained in the tissue between the vagina and the bladder. There may also have been multiple suture lines placed during the initial cerclage, and over time, the retained suture lines migrated, ultimately eroding the bladder and causing the formation of calculi [8]. Togas et al. [4] also described a case of recurrent urinary tract infections and hematuria caused by complete penetration of the Mersilene tape through the bladder during laparoscopic surgery. Similarly, the suture in this case also eroded the bladder and led to the formation of calculi. The reason may be related to the lack of surgical experience of doctors in primary hospitals, which caused the Mersilene tape to be too close to the bladder at the first time or the incorrect separation of anatomical layers during operation. The Mersilene tape may also penetrate the cervical canal, emphasizing the importance of using hysteroscopy to check the integrity of the cervical canal at the end of routine surgery [5]. Therefore, it is also important to screen for relevant cerclage in patients with complaints related to the urinary system. In this case, the symptoms of the urinary system occurred two months after the operation and the corresponding treatment was not given until nearly one year after the operation, which is worth pondering. This alerts us that it is equally important to carry out related screening for cerclage patients with complaints of urinary tract discomfort.

    In conclusion, for patients with cervical incompetence, the implementation of laparoscopic cervical cerclage prior to pregnancy can significantly enhance the success rate of the surgical procedure. However, it is crucial to monitor for potential long-term complications associated with the use of Mersilene tape, particularly the erosion of adjacent organs and the formation of bladder calculi.

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  • Lisa Nandy questions lack of BBC sackings over Gaza war documentary | BBC

    Lisa Nandy questions lack of BBC sackings over Gaza war documentary | BBC

    The culture secretary, Lisa Nandy, has demanded to know why no one at the BBC has lost their job over the airing of a documentary on Gaza that featured the son of a Hamas official.

    A review looking into the broacast of Gaza: How To Survive A Warzone is reportedly due to be published next week. The programme first aired in February, but was pulled by the broadcaster after the link between its 13-year-old narrator and Hamas emerged.

    “I have been very clear that people must be held accountable for the decisions that were taken,” Nandy told the Times on Saturday. “I have asked the question to the board [of the BBC]. Why has nobody been fired?

    “What I want is an explanation as to why not. If it is a sackable offence then obviously that should happen. But if the BBC, which is independent, considers that it is not, I think what all parliamentarians want to know is why.”

    The review is being led by Peter Johnston, the director of the independent editorial complaints and reviews body that reports directly to the BBC’s director general. It is expected to determine whether any editorial guidelines were broken, and whether any disciplinary action is needed. The BBC will also undertake a full audit of expenditure on the programme.

    Nandy described feeling “exasperated” as she called for an “adequate explanation from the BBC about what has happened”, adding: “I have not had that from the chair or director general yet.”

    The review led the corporation to delay and then pull entirely another documentary from the region, Gaza: Doctors under Attack, which has since been broadcast on Channel 4.

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    Nandy said the BBC had to “get a grip” after the livestreamed Glastonbury performance from punk rap duo, Bob Vylan. The group have been dropped by several music events since the singer Bobby Vylan led crowds in chants of “death, death to the IDF [Israel Defence Forces]” during their set at the festival last Saturday. The performance is being investigated by police.

    “The BBC leadership have got to get a grip on it,” Nandy said. “It makes me angry on behalf of the BBC staff and the whole creative industries in this country. Particularly the Jewish community, who deserved far better than what happened at the weekend. Action has to be forthcoming.”

    Bob Vylan, who are known for addressing political issues in their music, including racism, masculinity and class, have claimed they are being “targeted for speaking up”. The group have been vocal advocates for Palestinian rights and also led crowds in chants of “Free Palestine” during their set.

    The BBC has been approached for comment.

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  • Advanced Micro Devices vs. Micron Technology

    Advanced Micro Devices vs. Micron Technology

    • Shares of AMD and Micron Technology have soared impressively in the past three months.

    • Both are set to benefit from identical end markets, but one of them is growing at a much faster pace.

    • The valuation will make it clear which of these semiconductor stocks is worth buying right now.

    • 10 stocks we like better than Micron Technology ›

    The demand for artificial intelligence (AI) chips has been increasing at a nice pace in the past few years. Major cloud service providers (CSPs), hyperscalers, and governments have been spending a lot of money on shoring up their cloud infrastructure so that they can run AI workloads.

    This explains why the businesses of Advanced Micro Devices (NASDAQ: AMD) and Micron Technology (NASDAQ: MU) have gained terrific traction in recent quarters. As a result, shares of both these chip designers have clocked impressive gains in the past three months. AMD has jumped 32% during this period, and Micron stock is up 36%.

    But if you had to put your money into just one of these AI semiconductor stocks right now, which one should it be? Let’s find out.

    Image source: Getty Images.

    AMD designs chips that go into personal computers (PCs), servers, and gaming consoles, and for other applications such as robotics, automotive, and industrial automation. AI has created impressive demand for the company’s chips in these areas, leading to healthy growth in its top and bottom lines.

    The company’s revenue in the first quarter of 2025 was up by 36% from the year-ago period to $7.4 billion, while non-GAAP earnings per share shot up by 55% to $0.96. This solid growth was primarily driven by the data center and PC markets, which accounted for 81% of its top line. AMD’s data center revenue was up by 57% from the year-ago period, while the PC business reported a 68% increase.

    In the data center business, AMD sells both central processing units (CPUs) and graphics processing units (GPUs) that are deployed in AI servers. The demand for both these products is strong, which is evident from the terrific growth the company recorded in Q1. Importantly, AMD estimates that the market for AI accelerator chips in data centers could create a $500 billion annual revenue opportunity in 2028.

    So, the outstanding growth that AMD clocked in the data center business in Q1 seems sustainable, especially considering that it generated $12.6 billion in revenue from data center chip sales last year — nearly double the 2023 revenue. AMD is pushing the envelope on the product development front with new chips that are expected to pack in a serious performance upgrade and may even help it take market share away from Nvidia.

    Meanwhile, AMD’s consistent market share gains in PC CPUs make it a solid bet on the secular growth of the AI PC market, which is expected to clock an annual growth rate of 42% in shipments through 2028. All this indicates that AMD is on track to take advantage of the growing adoption of AI chips in multiple applications, and that’s expected to lead to an acceleration in its bottom-line growth.

    Consensus estimates are projecting a 17% jump in AMD’s earnings this year, followed by a bigger jump of 45% in 2026. As such, this semiconductor company is likely to remain a top AI stock in the future as well.

    Micron Technology manufactures and sells memory chips that are used for both computing and storage purposes, and the likes of AMD and Nvidia are its customers. In fact, just like AMD, Micron’s memory chips are used in AI accelerators such as GPUs and custom processors, PCs, and the smartphone and automotive end markets.

    Micron has been witnessing outstanding demand for a type of chip known as high-bandwidth memory (HBM), which is known for its ability to transmit huge amounts of data at high speeds. This is the reason why HBM is being deployed in AI accelerators, and the demand for this memory type is so strong that the likes of Micron have already sold out their capacity for this year.

    Not surprisingly, Micron is ramping up its HBM production capacity, and it’s going to increase its capital expenditure to $14 billion in the current fiscal year from $8.1 billion in the previous one. The company’s focus on improving its HBM production capacity is a smart thing to do from a long-term perspective, as this market is expected to grow to $100 billion in annual revenue by 2030, compared to $35 billion this year.

    Micron’s memory chips are used in PCs and smartphones as well. Apart from the growth in unit volumes that AI-enabled PCs and smartphones are expected to create going forward, the amount of memory going into these devices is also expected to increase. CEO Sanjay Mehrotra remarked on the company’s latest earnings conference call:

    AI adoption remains a key driver of DRAM content growth for smartphones, and we expect more smartphone launches featuring 12 gigabytes or more compared to eight gigabytes of capacity in the average smartphone today.

    Similarly, AI-enabled PCs are expected to sport at least 16GB of DRAM to run AI workloads, up by a third when compared to the average DRAM content in PCs last year. So, just like AMD, Micron is on its way to capitalizing on multiple AI-focused end markets. However, it is growing at a much faster pace than AMD because of the tight memory supply created by AI, which is leading to a nice increase in memory prices.

    The favorable pricing environment is the reason why Micron’s adjusted earnings more than tripled in the previous quarter to $1.91 per share on the back of a 37% increase in its top line. Analysts are forecasting a 6x jump in Micron’s earnings in the current fiscal year, and they have raised their earnings expectations for the next couple of years as well.

    MU EPS Estimates for Current Fiscal Year Chart
    MU EPS Estimates for Current Fiscal Year data by YCharts.

    So, Micron stock seems poised to sustain its impressive growth momentum, thanks to the AI-fueled demand for HBM.

    Both AMD and Micron are growing at solid rates, with the latter clocking a much faster pace thanks to the favorable demand-supply dynamics in the memory industry. What’s more, Micron is trading at a significantly cheaper valuation compared to AMD, despite its substantially stronger growth.

    AMD PE Ratio Chart
    AMD PE Ratio data by YCharts.

    Investors looking for a mix of value and growth can pick Micron over AMD, considering the former’s attractive valuation and the phenomenal earnings growth that it can deliver. However, one can’t go wrong with AMD either. The company should be able to justify its valuation in the long run, considering its ability to clock stronger earnings growth.

    Before you buy stock in Micron Technology, consider this:

    The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Micron Technology wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.

    Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004… if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $699,558!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005… if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $976,677!*

    Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 1,060% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 180% for the S&P 500. Don’t miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join Stock Advisor.

    See the 10 stocks »

    *Stock Advisor returns as of June 30, 2025

    Harsh Chauhan has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Advanced Micro Devices and Nvidia. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

    Better Artificial Intelligence (AI) Stock: Advanced Micro Devices vs. Micron Technology was originally published by The Motley Fool

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  • Bike check: Maya Kingma’s Cannondale LAB71 SuperSix EVO

    Bike check: Maya Kingma’s Cannondale LAB71 SuperSix EVO

    Unless you’re Maya Kingma.

    The former professional triathlete signed with EF Education-Oatly last month and soon learned that her first race would be the Giro d’Italia Women. Fortunately, Maya is an endurance athlete and is looking forward to taking on the eight-stage Giro with her Cannondale LAB71 SuperSix EVO.

    Our mechanics have been working closely with Maya to get her set up dialed in before the race kicks off on Sunday. She will ride Vittoria Corsa Pro 30mm tires, offering her the low rolling resistance and traction she’ll need for Italy’s roads.

    The Fizik Solocush Tacky bar tape allows her to grip with confidence and in comfort as she navigates the winding descents. Maya will track all her data using her Wahoo ELEMNT BOLT 3.

    “I’m new to Cannondale but I’m already so impressed with my bike,” Maya said. “It feels super fast, especially when accelerating. When you stand on the pedals, the power transfer feels really direct. And with the handling, it feels very secure so I feel like I can really put it inside in the corners. It lets me give a little more, go a little harder. You can tell – this bike just wants to go fast.”

    Check out the full specs of Maya’s Cannondale LAB71 SuperSix EVO.

    Maya Kingma’s Cannondale LAB71 SuperSix EVO

    Frame:

    Cannondale LAB71 SuperSix Evo size 48

    Cockpit:

    Cannondale System Bar 100X380

    Bar tape:

    Fizik Solocush Tacky

    Groupset:

    Shimano DURA-ACE Di2

    Cranks:

    FSA K-Force Team Edition

    Pedals:

    Wahoo SPEEDPLAY AERO

    Wheelset

    Vision Metron 45 RS

    Tires:

    Vittoria Corsa Pro 30mm

    Saddle:

    Fizik Tempo Argo R1 – 150 Team

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  • Totnes artist gives away £84,000 of work to comfort ill

    Totnes artist gives away £84,000 of work to comfort ill

    Artist Anita Nowinska is donating paintings worth £84,000 to a hospice to help comfort those who are ill.

    Nowinska, 60, from Totnes, Devon, said she decided to donate her original paintings “to bring light into difficult places”.

    “Painting is what keeps me well, but the paintings were building up, and I wanted them to do more than sit in storage, to bring joy to others,” she said.

    Forty five paintings will be donated to St Peter’s Hospice in Bristol and Nowinska has pledged to donate half of all her future work.

    Nowinska’s journey into painting came from personal crisis after a career in recruitment ended in the late 1990s.

    She found herself with no home, no job, no partner and expecting a child so turned to art as a lifeline.

    In the darkness of that moment, quite literally by candlelight after her electricity was cut off, she said she rediscovered a box of pastels.

    That night, she created her first flower painting.

    “While I was painting, the stress just melted away. I felt peace for the first time in ages,” she said.

    Nowinska said she received a call a few days later from a local gallery which, having seen a painting she had framed as a gift for her mother, asked if she had more work to exhibit.

    “It felt like the universe was answering my prayer,” she said.

    She said she had embraced her art fully, raising her son in Devon, where nature and creativity became “central to her life and healing”.

    “Even a dandelion growing through pavement cracks has beauty, that’s what I try to capture,” she said.

    Her work has been exhibited across the UK, but 2024 brought new challenges for her with the market for her work tightening, leading to a decision to donate 50% of her work.

    “If one painting can bring a moment of relief or joy to someone in pain, then it’s worth everything,” she said.

    “Art is meant to be shared. If it can bring comfort, then it’s doing its job.”

    She asked for any hospices, hospitals and care homes interested in taking her work in the future to get in touch via her website.

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  • A clinical-metabolic prediction model for suicidal behaviors risk stra

    A clinical-metabolic prediction model for suicidal behaviors risk stra

    Introduction

    Suicide is a critical global public health issue. The World Health Organization estimates over 800,000 annual suicide deaths worldwide.1,2 It ranks as the 18th leading cause of death across all ages, but is the second leading cause among those aged 15–29, surpassed only by unintentional injuries.3 Alarmingly, one suicide occurs approximately every 40 seconds.3 Suicide rates are high in many nations.4 The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported in 2018 that the US age-adjusted suicide rate rose 33% from 1999 to 2017.5 Critically, global rates are likely significantly underestimated. Some suicides may be misclassified (eg, as undetermined causes), potentially making actual figures 10–50% higher than reported.6,7 Suicide deaths represent merely the tip of the iceberg: non-fatal attempts are estimated to be 10–20 times more frequent, and suicidal ideation without action is vastly more common than completed suicide.8–10

    Suicidal behaviors (SB) arises from complex interactions between psychiatric illness, environmental stressors, and sociocultural determinants.11 Among psychiatric disorders, Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) emerges as the most potent predictor, implicated in >90% of suicide fatalities.12,13 MDD, characterized by profound disability and high recurrence rates,14–16 diminishes quality of life,17 disrupts occupational functioning,18 and exacerbates socioeconomic burdens,19 and also significantly elevates the risk of suicide.20 Despite therapeutic advances, persistent SB vulnerability during antidepressant treatment reveals critical shortcomings in current risk stratification paradigms.21 Specifically, the inability to identify subgroups at high risk of SB that are resistant to conventional interventions highlights the need to develop refined predictive models that integrate biomarkers.

    Current literature predominantly investigates SB prevalence in mixed outpatient/inpatient cohorts or recurrent MDD populations,22,23 with limited focus on first-hospitalized patients—a high-risk subgroup requiring urgent intervention. This gap is significant because the initial hospitalization often represents the first major clinical presentation and intervention point for severe MDD. Individuals experiencing their first severe depressive episode necessitating hospitalization may present distinct clinical profiles, biological correlates, and vulnerability to SB compared to those with chronic or recurrent illness.24–26 Factors such as the acute onset of severe symptoms, potential treatment naivety, and the profound psychological impact of a first psychiatric hospitalization could uniquely shape SB risk trajectories.26,27 Understanding SB determinants at this pivotal juncture is crucial for developing effective early intervention strategies. Furthermore, while metabolic dysregulation and thyroid dysfunction are increasingly recognized as SB correlates,28 potential neurobiological mechanisms include: dyslipidemia and visceral adiposity may promote neuroinflammation,28,29 serotonergic dysfunction,30 and HPA axis hyperactivity;31 elevated TSH may impair monoaminergic neurotransmission,32 reduce GABAergic inhibition,33 and diminish neurotrophic support.34 These disturbances likely synergize with psychopathology to exacerbate suicide risk through convergent effects on prefrontal-limbic circuitry.35,36 Nevertheless, clinically applicable biomarkers remain elusive despite compelling pathophysiological links.28,37

    This study addresses these gaps through three primary objectives: 1) establishing SB prevalence in first-admission MDD patients within China’s Han population; 2) identifying clinical and metabolic correlates of SB occurrence and severity; 3) constructing a multidimensional prediction model integrating psychometric and biological markers. By focusing on treatment-naïve inpatients during acute-phase MDD, our findings aim to enhance early risk detection and inform targeted prevention strategies.

    Study Design and Participants

    The sample size was determined using the formula:


    In this equation, n stands for the sample size, Z refers to the Z-score associated with the desired confidence level (1.96 for a 95% confidence interval), P indicates the estimated prevalence or proportion (chosen as 0.2 based on the rate of dyslipidemia in the general Chinese population), and d is the acceptable margin of error (set at 0.05). Based on these values, the calculated sample size came to 246 individuals.

    Participants were consecutively recruited from all first-admission MDD inpatients meeting inclusion criteria at Wuhan Mental Health Center (It is the largest public institution with psychiatric specialty in central China, visited by the patient population throughout the region) between July 2017 and August 2022. All eligible patients during this period were approached for enrollment, and those providing informed consent were included in the study. Diagnosis of MDD was confirmed through structured clinical interviews aligned with the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) criteria (Figure 1: Participant Flow Diagram).

    Figure 1 Study Flowchart.

    Inclusion required: (1) no prior psychiatric hospitalization history; (2) age 18–60 years; (3) male or female; (4) Han Chinese ethnicity; (5) acute-phase depressive severity (HAMD-17 score ≥24).

    Exclusion criteria encompassed: (1) pregnancy/lactation; (2) substance use disorders; (3) severe medical comorbidities or personality disorders; (4) diabetes mellitus diagnosis; (5) current use of psychotropic medications or drugs affecting metabolic/endocrine parameters; (6) cognitive/behavioral impairment precluding assessment compliance.

    The study was approved by the Ethics Committee of Wuhan Mental Health Center. All participants provided written informed consent prior to their involvement in the research, in accordance with the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki.

    Clinical and Biochemical Assessments

    Demographic profiles (age, sex, marital status), illness characteristics (age of onset, disease duration), and treatment history were systematically recorded. Within 24 hours post-admission, certified psychiatrists administered validated instruments:

    Depressive Severity

    Assessed using the 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD-17), quantifying symptoms via clinician-administered ratings (0–4/0–2 per item; total range 0–52).

    Anxiety Severity

    Measured with the 14-item Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAMA-14) evaluating somatic and psychic symptoms on 0–4 scales (total range 0–56).

    Psychotic Features

    Evaluated by the Positive subscale (P1–P7) of the PANSS (PSS) scoring seven psychotic symptoms on 1–7 severity dimensions (subscale range 7–49).

    Global Illness Severity

    Rated via the Clinical Global Impression–Severity Index (CGI-SI), a clinician-determined 7-point global metric (1=normal to 7=extremely ill).

    Fasting venous blood samples collected on Day 2 were analyzed for:

    Thyroid Function

    Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), free triiodothyronine (FT3), free thyroxine (FT4).

    Metabolic Indices

    Total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), high-/low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C/LDL-C), fasting blood glucose (FBG).

    Anthropometrics

    Waist circumference (WC), body mass index (BMI), systolic/diastolic blood pressure (SBP/DBP).

    Suicidal Behaviors Evaluation

    Current SB (past 30 days) was ascertained through semi-structured interviews with patients and corroborated by family members/guardians. The clinician-administered Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS) quantified SB severity through six ordinal levels (passive ideation to lethal attempts) in SB-positive cases. The C-SSRS was administered by raters trained to reliability standards (kappa>0.80) through the official Chinese C-SSRS certification program. To ensure validity: All interviews followed the standardized C-SSRS structured guide.38

    Trained psychiatrists (≥5 years experience) administered all instruments following standardized protocols, with inter-rater reliability maintained at κ > 0.80 through monthly calibration sessions.

    Data Analysis

    Categorical variables were expressed as frequencies (%), continuous variables as mean±SD or median (IQR) based on distribution normality (Shapiro–Wilk test). Between-group comparisons employed χ²-tests for categorical data, independent t-tests for normally distributed variables, and Mann–Whitney U-tests for nonparametric measures. Variables with p < 0.10 in univariate analyses were entered into binary logistic regression (backward elimination) to identify SB correlates. Model discrimination was evaluated via receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, with area under the curve (AUC) >0.70 considered clinically informative.39,40 SB severity correlates were analyzed through multiple linear regression. Significance was set at two-tailed p<0.05. Analyses utilized SPSS 27 and GraphPad Prism 8.4.3.

    Results

    Clinical and Metabolic Profile of SB Subgroups

    A total of 132 cases of MDD accompanied by SB were recorded, accounting for 13.46% (132/981) of the total. Comparative analysis revealed substantial disparities between MDD patients with SB (n = 132) and non-SB counterparts (n = 849). The SB cohort demonstrated elevated psychopathological severity across multiple domains: PANSS positive symptom scores were markedly higher (Z = −14.49, p < 0.001), as were anxiety symptoms (HAMA: Z = −12.43, p < 0.001) and global illness severity (CGI-SI: Z = −11.76, p<0.001). Metabolic dysregulation was prominent in SB patients, evidenced by increased TSH (Z = −6.59, p < 0.001), WC (Z = −2.15, p = 0.032), FBG (t = −3.98, p < 0.001), and TC (Z = −7.35, p < 0.001). Notably, SB patients exhibited shorter median disease duration (9.5 vs 10.5 months, p=0.004) (Table 1).

    Table 1 The Demographic and General Clinical Data in Different Clinical Subgroups

    Multivariate Predictors of Suicidal Behaviors

    Binary logistic regression identified six factors independently associated with SB (Table 2). Anxiety severity (HAMA: OR=1.37, 95% CI=1.25–1.51) and psychotic features (PSS: OR=1.08, 95% CI=1.01–1.14) showed dose-dependent associations with SB risk. Clinical global severity (CGI-SI: OR=3.52, 95% CI=2.38–5.22) emerged as the strongest predictor, while metabolic parameters including WC (OR=1.04, 95% CI=1.01–1.07), DBP (OR=1.04, 95% CI=1.01–1.08), and TC (OR=1.51, 95% CI=1.07–2.12) contributed additively. Paradoxically, higher LDL-C levels reduced SB likelihood (OR=0.58, 95% CI=0.40–0.84).

    Table 2 Binary Logistic Regression Analyses of Determinants of SB in MDD Patients

    Discriminative Capacity and Severity Associations

    ROC analysis demonstrated differential discriminatory capacity among SB-associated factors (Table 3). The HAMA scale achieved superior performance (AUC=0.83, 95% CI=0.80–0.87), followed by CGI-SI (AUC=0.79) and PSS (AUC=0.76). A composite model integrating these three clinical measures yielded exceptional classification accuracy (AUC=0.87, 95% CI=0.83–0.91), significantly outperforming isolated metabolic parameters (AUC range: 0.56–0.69) (Figure 2). Linear regression of SB severity (C-SSRS scores) identified HAMA as a positive contributor (β=0.21, p=0.029) and TC as a mitigating factor (β=−0.98, p=0.032), accounting for 18.7% of severity variance (adjusted R²=0.187) (Table 4).

    Table 3 ROC Analysis of Factors Influencing SB

    Table 4 Multiple Linear Regression Analysis of Correlates of SB Severity

    Figure 2 The discriminatory capacity of related factors for distinguishing between patients with and without SB in MDD patients. The area under the curve of PSS score, HAMA score, CGI-SI score, and the combination of these three factors were 0.76, 0.83, 0.79, and 0.87, respectively.

    Discussion

    This investigation provides novel insights into SB among first-hospitalized MDD patients, addressing critical gaps in characterizing this high-risk population. Four principal findings emerge: (1) SB prevalence of 13.46% in treatment-naïve inpatients; (2) distinct psychopathological and metabolic profiles in SB subgroups; (3) validated discriminative utility of a multidimensional clinical model; (4) anxiety severity as an independent correlate of SB intensity. These findings could inform risk stratification for SB and support targeted prevention strategies in high-risk clinical populations.

    Current literature extensively documents the prevalence of SB in patients with MDD. A large-scale meta-analysis reveals a lifetime SB prevalence of 23.7% among MDD patients.41 For individuals experiencing their first MDD episode and receiving outpatient care, SB detection rates range from 17.3% to 20.1%,42,43 comparable to hospitalization-based SB detection rates (17.3%),41 but notably lower than those observed in chronic/recurrent MDD cohorts (20–36%).24,25 Intriguingly, our study identified a significantly reduced SB detection rate of 13.46%, which markedly deviates from the previously reported benchmarks. This observed pattern suggests that illness chronicity, rather than treatment setting alone, may be a more significant modulator of SB vulnerability. The coexistence of heightened psychotic symptoms (PSS), anxiety severity (HAMA), and metabolic abnormalities in SB patients aligns with integrative “brain-body” models of suicidality, wherein neuroendocrine-metabolic dysregulation synergizes with psychopathological processes was associated with increased SB risk.28,35 Notably, thyroid dysfunction and lipid anomalies may impair prefrontal-limbic circuitry through neuroinflammatory pathways,35 while visceral adiposity (reflected by elevated WC) co-occurred with insulin resistance, potentially reflecting a shared pathway underlying mood dysregulation.37 The shorter disease duration in SB subgroups further suggests acute biopsychosocial decompensation—rather than illness chronicity—may drive SB emergence, urging reevaluation of duration-based risk paradigms.

    Secondly, comparative analyses of sociodemographic and clinical features between MDD patients with and without SB revealed significantly heightened severity of psychopathology, psychological symptoms, and metabolic disturbances in the SB subgroup. This aligns with findings from large-scale studies in Chinese populations, which have consistently reported similar clinical and metabolic abnormalities associated with SB in MDD.26,28,37,40,44,45 While the precise mechanisms, including lipid dysregulation, HPA axis dysfunction, neuroplasticity alterations, and inflammation, remain to be fully elucidated,35 our findings suggest that SB in MDD co-occurs with characterized by a more adverse psychophysical state.

    Thirdly, we identified several key factors associated with SB in MDD patients. These factors are multifaceted, encompassing both clinical symptoms (eg, PSS, HAMA, CGI-SI scores) and metabolic parameters. Prior research has underscored the roles of elevated anxiety symptoms, psychotic features, and specific lipid markers as factors associated with SB in MDD.27,45,46 However, it has to be emphasized that LDL-C levels were considered by this study yet as an inverse predictor of SB in patients with MDD, contrary to the vast majority of other metabolic parameters addressed in this study. A large-scale meta-analysis yielded similar conclusions and was not confounded by ethnicity,47,48 which emphasizes the special status of LDL-C in distinguishing it from other metabolic parameters in terms of their association with SB. While the specific clinical parameters identified in our study may differ, these findings collectively emphasize the significant association value of clinical and biological indicators in assessing SB risk in MDD.

    Fourthly, we developed discriminative models for characterizing SB in MDD patients. Our analyses demonstrated robust discriminative ability of PSS, HAMA, and CGI-SI scores in distinguishing patients with and without SB. Previous studies have also explored similar approaches, achieving success using peripheral blood inflammatory cytokines and some other serum indicators.49–51 Among these, the combination of IL-17C and TNF-β, and the combination of IL-1α, IL-5, and ICAM-1 demonstrated accuracy in distinguishing SB with AUC values of 0.848 and 0.850, respectively. However, the combination of α1-antitrypsin, transferrin, HDL-C, and apolipoprotein A1 demonstrated higher discriminatory ability (AUC = 0.928).49–51 Our model, with a combined AUC of 0.87, also demonstrates strong capacity to differentiate SB subgroups, highlighting the efficacy of traditional clinical indicators even in the absence of advanced biomarkers.

    Finally, by assessing SB severity as a continuous variable, we found HAMA scores to be predictive of more severe SB. The detrimental impact of anxiety symptoms on SB is well-established, with studies in both general university populations and MDD patients highlighting the role of anxiety in increasing the risk of suicidal ideation and behaviors.52–54 Consequently, MDD patients with comorbid anxiety may require augmented treatment and care to mitigate the potential for SB.

    Study limitations include: (1) inherent cross-sectional causality constraints; (2) acute-phase sample homogeneity, limiting generalizability to chronic MDD; (3) undocumented antipsychotics and antidepressants exposures potentially confounding metabolic findings; and (4) potential circularity in CGI-SI assessment, as clinicians’ awareness of suicide risk may inflate severity ratings. Although collinearity tests showed no critical bias, CGI-SI likely captures global severity context rather than SB-specific pathways. (5) some key psychosocial determinants of SB—including recent life stressors, substance use patterns, and socioeconomic status—were not systematically assessed. Future longitudinal designs tracking SB trajectories from first-admission through maintenance phases—while incorporating blinded CGI ratings—could elucidate dynamic risk interactions and reduce assessment bias.

    Conclusion

    This study establishes the clinical and metabolic signatures of SB in first-hospitalized MDD patients. The operationalized discriminative model, leveraging clinical and metabolic variables, shows utility in distinguishing high-risk subgroups.

    Data Sharing Statement

    All relevant data are within the manuscript.

    Acknowledgments

    We express our gratitude to all the medical staff and patients who participated in our study, as well as to those who contributed to the diagnosis and clinical evaluation of the subjects.

    Funding

    The authors received no specific funding for this work.

    Disclosure

    The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.

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  • Fluminense book Club World Cup semi-final place with win over Al-Hilal | Club World Cup 2025

    Fluminense book Club World Cup semi-final place with win over Al-Hilal | Club World Cup 2025

    Brazil’s Fluminense continued their fairytale run at the Club World Cup with a 2-1 victory over Saudi Arabia’s Al-Hilal on Friday in Orlando to book their place in the semi-finals.

    The tournament underdogs struck first through Matheus Martinelli in the opening half before Al-Hilal hit back after the break when Marcos Leonardo found the net.
    But Fluminense refused to be denied and regained their lead in the 70th minute through Hércules to secure a memorable win over Al-Hilal in the first meeting between the two clubs.

    “If you asked me a while ago whether we would reach this stage, a semi-final, I wouldn’t say I wouldn’t believe it because I believe in everything that I do, but it was so far away from us,” said the captain Thiago Silva. The Brazilian side, who entered the tournament as one of the biggest long shots, will now face the winners of Friday’s other quarter-final clash between Palmeiras and Chelsea.

    Fluminense opened the scoring when João Cancelo failed to clear his line, allowing Gabriel Fuentes to roll the ball to Martinelli who brilliantly picked out the far post with a left-footed strike into the top right corner.

    “Many people didn’t believe in our potential, in our team but each game and each step we proved we can be tough,” said Martinelli, who will miss the semi-final after picking up a yellow card shortly after his goal. When we step on the pitch it’s difficult to beat our team.”

    During first-half stoppage time, a rising Kalidou Koulibaly headed the ball on target but a fully-stretched Fabio used his left hand to swat it away and keep Fluminense in front.

    Al-Hilal made a quick start to the second half and drew level after a cushioned header from a wide-open Koulibaly hit the legs of Leonardo, who quickly reset his feet and fired home from close range.

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    Moments later, Fluminense’s Samuel Xavier looked to have tripped Leonardo in the area, prompting the referee to immediately point to the spot, but after a VAR review it was considered “normal football contact” and the call was reversed.

    Fluminense nearly restored their lead in the 55th minute when German Cano broke free but rather than shooting he tried to take the ball around Yassine Bounou and the Moroccan goalkeeper managed to poke away the ball.

    Hércules, who scored off the bench in the last-16 win over Inter Milan, came in for Martinelli after the break and struck again when he took a brilliant touch into the area and fired into the bottom corner.

    “I really want to congratulate my squad for the way that they played, they poured their hearts out on the pitch tonight,” said the Al-Hilal coach Simone Inzaghi. “And of course we are sorry but we need to be proud.”

    The match began with players and fans observing a minute’s silence in memory of Liverpool’s Portuguese forward Diogo Jota and his younger brother Andre Silva, who both died in a car crash on Thursday.

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