The main goal of our scientific study is to determine the particular characteristics of the endo-scopic image of the otorhinolaryngologic pathology of nasopharynx, which is called chronic rhinosinusitis in association with gastroesophageal acid reflux disease. Background/Objectives: to identify a specific features in the endoscopic picture of chronic rhinosinusitis associated with acid gastroesophageal reflux disease symptoms. Methods: there were selected 521 adult patients, from this sample as a main group we have selected only 95 patients with the highest scores on the Reflux Symptom Index (RSI) (>20) and Reflux Symptom Score-12 (RSS-12) (>130) questionnaires. As a control group we have selected 41 adult patients only with chronic rhinosinusitis and 10 healthy patients. Results: there were significant changes in the nasopharyngeal mucosa. In-creased vascularity of the nasopharyngeal mucosa was noted in 91 patients (95,7%). Hypertrophy of the nasopharyngeal mucosa was found in 83 patients (87,4%). In 77 (81,1%) patients, mucus was found in the nasopharynx with different characteristics of color and consistency, and no mucus or other secretions were found in the middle nasal passages in these patients. In 62 pa-tients (65,3%) asymmetric hypertrophy of the mucosa of the oropharynx was noted. Conclusions: the presence of specific features of the endoscopic picture of the nose and nasopharynx of pa-tients with chronic rhinosinusitis associated with gastroesophageal disease symptoms and pro-posed a method for assessing the degree of influence of gastroesophageal reflux disease on the mucosal layer of the nose and nasopharynx. The possible influence of symptoms of gas-tro-oesophageal reflux disease on the course and severity of clinical manifestations of exacerba-tions of chronic rhinosinusitis needs further investigation.

Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is a complex inflammatory condition affecting the nasal and paranasal sinus mucosa. Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) has been implicated as a potential exacerbating factor in CRS, but the specific endoscopic features of nasopharyngeal pathology in this context remain poorly understood. Background and Objectives: CRS is a multifactorial disease with various underlying etiologies, including inflammation, anatomical factors, and environmental triggers. While GERD has been suggested as a potential contributor to CRS, the specific endoscopic features indicative of nasopharyngeal pathology in CRS patients with GERD symptoms have not been clearly elucidated. Our aim is to identify specific endoscopic features of nasopharyngeal pathology in patients with CRS associated with GERD symptoms, and to propose a method for assessing the influence of GERD on the mucosal layer of the nose and nasopharynx. Materials and Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional observational study involving 521 adult patients presenting with symptoms suggestive of CRS. From this cohort, 95 patients with the highest scores on the Reflux Symptom Index (RSI) and Reflux Symptom Score-12 (RSS-12) questionnaires were selected as the main group. Endoscopic examinations were performed to assess the nasal and nasopharyngeal mucosa. Results: Our study revealed significant alterations in the nasopharyngeal mucosa of patients with CRS associated with GERD symptoms. Increased vascularity of the nasopharyngeal mucosa was observed in 91 patients (95.7%), while hypertrophy was noted in 83 patients (87.4%). Mucus was present in the nasopharynx of 77 patients (81.1%), exhibiting varying characteristics of color and consistency. Asymmetric hypertrophy of the oropharyngeal mucosa was noted in 62 patients (65.3%). Conclusions: We propose a method for assessing the influence of GERD on the mucosal layer of the nose and nasopharynx, which may aid in diagnostic and management decisions. Further research is warranted to explore the potential impact of GERD symptoms on the course and severity of CRS exacerbations.

Pediatric rhinosinusitis are common encountered disorders caused by different pathogenic factors or predisposing conditions with a proportion of them progressing to chronicity with a meaningful impact on quality of life and related adverse effects. A deep understanding of pathophysiology, disease course and prognosis are the fundamental building block to an appropriate management of rhinosinusitis in order to avoid risks related to complications. This review gives concise answers to clinicians who want to know "when do we need imaging?" "what do we aspect from imaging?" and "what are the appropriate imaging modalities in different settings?” in pediatric patients in order to increase the appropriateness of imaging examinations.

Objective Rhinosinusitis is a chronic condition characterized by frequent episodes of recurrence; its main treatment is pharmacological and this therapy should be continued for a long time until stabilization of the problem. Some patients, however, often must resort to targeted therapies for disease recurrences, which is why targeted preventive treatments are sought. Methods In the study performed, Pistacia lentiscus oil was used. Two groups of patients were studied with endoscopy, SNOT 22 and Nasal Cytology to evaluate nasal cellularity and ciliar motility. Results Pistacia lentiscus oil has the ability to reduce mucosal inflammation, by destroying and preventing the formation of biofilm. Conclusion The study showed that daily administration of Pistacia lentiscus oil significantly reduced the presence of biofilm. Moreover, continuous use of a lentiscus oil wash significantly reduced patients’ symptoms and improved their quality of life according to the Snot 22 questionnaire.

Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is a significant health problem. It affects 5%–12% of the general population. The causes that underlie the onset of CRS are not yet well known. However, many factors may contribute to its onset, such as environmental factors and the host’s condition. Medical treatment mainly uses local corticosteroids, nasal irrigation, and antibiotics. In recent years, a new therapeutic approach that employs the use of probiotics emerged. Probiotics have been extensively studied as a therapy for dysbiosis and inflammatory pathologies of various parts of the body . We aimed to examine the studies in the existing literature to update probiotics’ role in rhinosinusitis chronic medical treatment.

The planar cell polarity (PCP) of epithelial ciliated cells is essential for effective mucociliary clearance (MCC) in the sinonasal mucosa. We hypothesize that MCC coordination is impaired in nasal polyp (NP) mucosae due to suppressed expression of a series of CPLANE (ciliogenesis and planar cell polarity effector) complex proteins in chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) patients. To inves-tigate this hypothesis, we subjected sinonasal mucosal samples to live video recording to measure mucociliary transport velocity (MCTV) and scanning electron microscopy to evaluate surface morphology. The expression and distribution of a panel of PCP proteins, e.g. WDPCP and FUZ, were investigated in relation to inflammatory cytokine levels and clinical features. The mean MCTV of NP mucosae was significantly lower than that of the inferior turbinate mucosae. The CRS group with NPs (CRSwNP group) (n=28) showed increased expression of IL-13 and CCL26 mRNA compared to CRS patients without NPs (n=25) and controls (n=30). WDPCP and FUZ mRNA levels were significantly decreased in NP mucosae compared to ethmoid sinus mucosae in CRSwNP patients. WDPCP protein distribution was reduced in the cytoplasmic region of ciliated cells in CRSwNP patients. We conclude that suppression of WDPCP in ciliated cells is responsible for the impaired MCC of nasal polyps with type-2 inflammation. This mechanism might explain the decreased clearance and the potential for worsening symptoms of CRSwNP.

ABSTRACT: Objectives: Oncostatin M (OSM), a member of the interleukin (IL)-6 family of cytokines, is known to elicit pathogenic effects involving disruption of the epithelial barrier function as a part of immunological response networks. It is not yet known how these integrated cytokine signals influence inflammation and other physiological processes in the pathology of chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS). We investigated the expression and distribution of OSM and OSM receptor (OSMR) in sinonasal specimens of CRS patients, and we compared the results with a panel of inflammatory cytokine levels and clinical features. Materials and Methods: We classified CRS patients as eosinophilic (ECRS, n=36) or non-eosinophilic (non-ECRS, n=35) based on the Japanese Epidemiological Survey of Refractory Eosinophilic Chronic Rhinosinusitis (JESREC) phenotypic criteria, and we compared their cases with those of 68 non-CRS subjects. We also examined stimulatory effects of OSM on the expression levels of cytokine receptors by using the human bronchial epithelium cell line BEAS-2B. Results: An RT-PCR showed that the OSM mRNA levels were significantly increased in the ethmoid sinus mucosa of the CRS patients. The OSM mRNA levels were positively correlated with those of TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-13, and OSMR-β. In BEAS-2B cells, OSM treatment induced significant increases in the OSMR-β, IL-1R1, and IL-13Ra mRNA levels. Conclusions: Our findings indicate that OSM is involved in the pathogenesis of CRS in both type 1 and type 2 inflammation, suggesting the OSM signaling pathway as a potential therapeutic target for modulating epithelial stromal interactions.

The last decade has seen a significant growth in low-cost air quality monitoring systems (LCAQMS) adoption, mostly driven by the spatial density limitations of traditional regulatory grade networks which restrict their effectiveness in several settings. The EU's regulatory framework advise for deploying one air quality monitoring unit per roughly 170,000 people or 15 square kilometers which is insufficient for capturing high spatio-temporal variance in complex urban scenarios. Often these settings are characterized by distributed emissions in small roads subjected to intense cars traffic, house heating driven emissions and frequently subjected to canyon effects. The Air Heritage project in Portici, funded by the EU's Urban Innovative Actions (UIA) program, addressed these challenges by integrating low-cost sensors with traditional monitoring systems and engaging the community in pervasive measurement strategies. The project highlights the importance of individualized sensor calibration and frequent recalibrations to maintain accuracy. It also showcases the benefits of citizen science approaches, IoT infrastructures, AI components, and geostatistical sensor fusion algorithms for mobile and opportunistic air quality measurements. This paper reports on the lessons learned and experiences from the Air Heritage project, aiming to guide future implementations in similar contexts. By sharing these insights along with the gathered datalake, we aim to inform stakeholders, including researchers, public authorities, and citizens, about effective strategies for deploying and utilizing LCAQMS to enhance air quality monitoring and public awareness.

Background: The objective of this study was to evaluate, the clinical benefit of benralizumab in patients with uncontrolled severe asthma associated with chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis (CRSwNP). Methods: The study included patients with uncontrolled severe asthma associated with CRSwNP who started therapy with benralizumab. Pulmonary function, eosinophilia, IgE, comorbidity, changes in the Asthma Control Test (ACT), Asthma Control Questionnaire (ACQ), Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), Quality of Life (AQLQ), VAS (obstruction, drip, anosmia, facial pressure), SNOT-22, decrease or withdrawal of steroids and other medication, hospital admissions and emergency visits were analysed. The FEOS scale and EXACTO were employed in the assessment of response. Results: We analyzed 58 patients who completed minimal treatment at 12 months. After treatment with benralizumab, exacerbations were reduced by 82% (p

Expression of miR-21 has been found to be altered in almost all types of cancers and it has been classified as an oncogenic microRNA. In addition, expression of tumor suppressor gene RECK is associated with miR-21 overexpression in high-grade cervical lesions. In the present study we analyze the role of miR-21 in RECK gene regulation in cervical cancer cells. To identify the downstream cellular target genes of upstream miR-21, we silenced endogenous miR-21 expression using siRNAs. We analyzed the expression of miR-21 and RECK, as well as functional effects on cell proliferation and migration. We found that in cervical cancer cells there was an inverse correlation between miR-21 expression and RECK mRNA and protein expression. SiRNAs to miR-21 increased luciferase reporter activity in construct plasmids containing the RECK-3′-UTR microRNA response elements MRE21-1, MRE21-2, and MRE21-3. The role of miR-21 in cell proliferation was also analyzed and cancer cells transfected with siRNAs exhibited a markedly reduced cell proliferation and migration. Our findings indicate that miR-21 post-transcriptionally down-regulates the expression of RECK to promote cell proliferation and cell migration inhibition in cervical cancer cell survival. Therefore, miR-21 and RECK may be potential therapeutic targets in gene therapy for cervical cancer.

Litsea martabanica root's antioxidant and AChE activity showed promise as a pesticide detoxification agent in our previous study. In addition to roots, its leaves can help mitigate pesticide exposure, although there is limited scientific evidence supporting their efficacy. However, the use of roots in many countries, such as Thailand, could contribute to environmental degradation, as highland communities traditionally cut down whole trees to obtain them. This study aims to evaluate the antioxidant activity and anti-pesticide potential of water extracts from L. martabanica leaves instead of its roots through in vitro and in vivo investigations. The findings showed that L. martabanica water extracts and fractions demonstrated varied antioxidant activity. The water extract, obtained using traditional extraction methods, was chosen for in vivo experiments. Rats received the extract followed by chlorpyrifos exposure for 16 days. Results indicated reduced acetylcholinesterase activity in chlorpyrifos-exposed rats, while treatment with leaf extract led to increased activity, suggesting its potential as a detoxifying agent. Histopathological examination revealed no liver cell necrosis and showed liver cell regeneration, indicating potential protection against free radical-induced liver damage without affecting rat liver weight or biochemical profiles. Utilizing L. martabanica leaves for healthcare purposes holds promise without negative environmental impact.

The Ionian Sea is a crucial intersection for various water masses in the Mediterranean. Its hydrography and dynamics play a significant role in the seawater budgets and biogeochemistry of the neighboring sub-basins. Multiple theories have been formulated to gain a better understanding of the Ionian dynamics. These theories primarily attribute the variability of the near-surface Ionian circulation to internal processes. Here, we utilize horizontal currents and temperature-salinity profiles from the Copernicus reanalysis to examine the contribution of baroclinic modes to the variability of the basin horizontal circulation. Our findings demonstrate that, although the basin vertical structure is characterized by three layers, the primary patterns of the Ionian circulation can be attributed to the first baroclinic mode. This mode, along with the barotropic mode, accounts for over 85% of the overall variability in the Ionian circulation, suggesting that only one of the three interfaces separating the different water masses in the basin is dynamically active. We estimate the depth of this interface to be about 490 m. Additionally, our analysis shows that more than 90% of the kinetic energy over the water column is localized above this interface, indicating that the deep layer of the Ionian is dynamically nearly inert.

Alzheimer’s disease (AD), the most common cause of dementia, is characterized by disruptions in memory, cognition, and personality, significantly impacting morbidity and mortality rates among older adults. However, the exact pathophysiological mechanism of AD remains unknown, and effective treatment options for AD are still lacking. Human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) are emerging as promising platforms for disease research, offering the ability to model genetic mutations associated with various conditions. Patient-derived iPSCs are useful for modeling neurodegenerative and neurodevelopmental disorders. In this study, we generated AD iPSCs from peripheral blood mononuclear cells obtained from a 65-year-old patient with AD carrying the E682K mutation in the amyloid precursor protein (APP) gene. Cerebral organoids derived from AD iPSCs recapitulated the AD phenotype, exhibiting significantly increased levels of tau protein. Our analysis revealed that an iPSC disease model of AD is a valuable assessment tool for pathophysiological research and drug screening.

Platelet-activating factor (PAF) is a phospholipid-derived inflammatory mediator, triggering various inflammatory conditions, including eosinophil activation and recruitment. Despite the unclear mechanism underlying the formation and maintenance of nasal polyp in chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP), there is strongly indication of its association with type 2 inflammation. This study aimed to quantify PAF-associated gene expression, examining enzymes involved in PAF synthesis (lysophosphatidylcholine acyltransferase 1 (LPCAT1), LPCAT2, LPCAT3, and LPCAT4), and PAF degradation (PAF acetylhydrolases 1 B2 (PAFAH1B2), PAFAH1B3, and PAF acetylhydrolases 2 (PAFAH2)), and PAF receptor (PTAFR). Transcriptomic analysis encompassed CRSwNP, including eosinophilic CRS (ECRS) (n=9), nonECRS (n=8), and a subgroup of ECRS with aspirin exacerbated respiratory disease (Asp) (n=3) based on the Japanese Epidemiological Survey of Refractory Eosinophilic Chronic Rhinosinusitis (JESREC) criteria. Gene expression profiles from nasal polyps in CRSwNP patients and the uncinate process in normal subjects (controls) (n=6) were analyzed using bulk RNA barcoding and sequencing (BRB-seq). Hierarchal analysis, utilizing the average linkage method with iDEP1.1, clarified the relationship between Differentially Expressed Genes (DEG) expressions and cluster formation. Two clusters (cluster 1 (n=11) and cluster 2 (n=9)) of CRSwNP divided by hierarchal analysis showed distinct gene expression profiles in the specific pathway of “cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction” in KEGG pathway and upregulated type 2 inflammatory gene expression in cluster 2. In CRSwNP subclassification of ECRS, nonECRS, and Ctrl, PTAFR was only upregulated in ECRS and nonECRS. In cluster analysis, cluster 1 showed significant downregulation of LPCAT2 and upregulation of PTAFR expression, while cluster 2 showed significant upregulation of LPCAT1, PAFAH1B2, and PTAFR and downregulation of PAFAH2 expression. These findings suggest that cluster 2, characterized by severe type 2 inflammatory gene expression, manifest a prominent PAF-associated pathophysiology. Understanding this high PAF-associated pathophysiology in cluster 2 could provide valuable insights into the treatment and management of CRSwNP.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a major public health threat associated with serious clinical consequences worldwide. The WHO reports an estimated 58 million people globally living with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, with 1.5 million new cases and over 350,000 deaths annually due to HCV-related diseases. Despite the existence of multiple diagnostic methods, the accessibility of diagnosis and treatment is often hindered across the continent by limited resources, insufficient healthcare infrastructure, and low public awareness of Hepatitis C virus Hepatitis C virus infection is a major public health concern in African countries, which have the highest prevalence rates of HCV in the world (1–26%). Egypt, African country which had the highest prevalence of Hepatitis C virus infection in the world. Its national hepatitis C elimination initiative emerges as an exemplary case of success an having screened over 60 million individuals, and treated more than 4 million, thereby markedly diminishing both the prevalence and incidence of the disease. The strategies employed by Egypt offer critical insights and adaptable frameworks for other African Countries facing analogous challenges. The Aim of this Review is to highlight the triumphs and hurdles of Egypt's approach, while also providing strategic guidance for African Countries to accelerate the journey towards the eradication of hepatitis C.

Background: Handheld cameras may increase access to teleretinal diabetic retinopathy screenings (TDRS), as they are more economical and nimbler than traditional desktop cameras. However, their use in safety-net clinical settings is less understood. Methods: The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health collaborated with the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services (DHS) to pilot the use of handheld cameras in DHS’s TDRS program. This study assessed screening metrics and interviewed TDRS coordinators and photographers about their experiences using these cameras. Results: Handheld cameras are harder to operate and performed less optimally on key screening metrics (e.g., image quality) compared to desktop cameras. However, this challenge appeared to be linked to the selected model, rather than to all handheld cameras. The adoption of handheld cameras in DHS was aided by their integration into an existing agency infrastructure that already supports the use of desktop cameras; these operational supports include an established workflow, a data platform, and experienced photographers. Conclusions: The use of handheld cameras for TDRS is a promising practice for assuring equitable access to screenings. Handheld cameras are portable, smaller in size, and lower in cost than desktop cameras. Future projects should invest in and assess the performance of higher-quality models of these cameras, especially their use in safety-net clinical settings.

A large core size and bending resistance are very important properties of mid-infrared energy transfer fibers, but large core sizes usually lead to a deterioration of bending properties. A negative-curvature nested node-free anti-resonant hollow-core fiber (AR-HCF) based on quartz is proposed. It was made by adding a nested layer to a previous AR-HCF design to provide an additional anti-resonance region while keeping the gap between adjacent tubes strictly correlated to the core diameter to produce a node-free structure. These features improve the fiber’s bending resistance while achieving a larger core diameter. The simulation results show that the radial air-glass anti-resonant layer is increased by the introduction of the nested anti-resonant tube, and the weak interference overlap between the fiber core and the cladding mode is reduced, so the fiber core’s limiting loss and the sensitivity to bending are effectively reduced. When the capillary wall thickness t of the fiber is 0.71 μm, the core diameter D is 70 μm, the ratio of the inner diameter of the cladding capillary to the core diameter d/D is 0.62, and the diameter of the nested tube is d0=29 μm, the fiber has a lower limiting loss at the wavelength of 2.79 μm, and the limiting loss is 3.28×10-4 dB/m. At the same time, the optimized structure also has good bending resistance. When the bending radius is 30 mm, the bending loss is only 4.72×10-2 dB/m. To our knowledge, this is the first research to achieve an anti-bending low-loss micro-structure hollow fiber with a bending radius of less than 30 mm in the 2.79 μm band. An anti-bending low-loss anti-resonant hollow-core fiber with this structure constitutes a reliable choice for the light guiding system of a 2.79 μm band erbium laser therapy instrument.

Fe-(9, 19, 28, 37)wt.% Cr alloys were corroded at 700 and 800 ^oC for 70 h under 1 atm of N₂, 1 atm of N₂/3.2%H₂O-mixed gas, and 1 atm of N₂/3.1%H₂O/2.42%H₂S-mixed gas. The corrosion rate of Fe-9Cr alloy increased with the addition of H₂O, and furthermore with the addition of H₂S in N₂ gas. Fe-9Cr alloy was always nonprotective. In contrast, Fe-(19, 28, 37) wt.%Cr alloys were protective in N₂ and N₂/H₂O-mixed gas because of formation of the Cr₂O₃ layer. They were, however, nonprotective in N₂/H₂O/H₂S-mixed gas because sulfidation dominated to form the outer FeS layer and the inner Cr₂S₃ layer containing some FeCr₂S₄.

Ultra-short 230 fs laser pulses of 515 nm wavelength were tightly focused into 700 nm focal spots and utilised in opening ~ 400 nm nano-holes in a Cr etch mask that was tens-of-nm thick. Nano-holes ablated at slightly above the threshold of ablation irradiance became nano-disks and nano-rings at slightly lower pulse energies. Subtle sub-1 nJ pulse energy control was harnessed to pattern large surface areas with controlled nano-alloying of Si and Cr. This technique is extendable to vacuum-free large area patterning of nanolayers by alloying them at distinct locations with sub-diffraction resolution. Such metal masks with nano-hole opening can be used for formation of random patterns of nano-needles with sub-100 nm separation when applied to dry etching of Si.

Fiscal control and monitoring of public management are issues of great importance and relevance, as they focus on preventing and mitigating corruption, thus benefiting governments in their management and performance, and thus citizens. Given the large amount of data involved in the management and functioning of a government, it is pertinent to apply data analysis methods to contribute to fiscal control. This paper aims to investigate data management for this purpose, starting with a bibliometric study to demonstrate the relevance and pertinence of the current study. It examines existing data collection techniques that may facilitate such control, data storage considering its nature and the possibilities that contribute to this end, and data processing through techniques that allow obtaining adequate information for further analysis and decision making. The necessary architecture and interoperability between systems is also discussed, as the existence of large amounts and types of data in governments makes it crucial to promote these practices for accurate and truthful analysis. Finally, data visualization is addressed since this topic is highly relevant as it allows for the identification of anomalies, where proper visualization promotes appropriate analysis and thus informed decision making. This work is useful for modern audit and fiscal control entities, since data capture, storage, processing, interoperability, and visualization are crucial elements that collectively enhance the ability to supervise public expenditure effectively, ensuring that public funds are managed with the highest standards of transparency, accountability, and efficiency.

Introduction: Acute rhinosinusitis (ASR) is a common condition in children, which can be burdened by orbital complication (OC) or intracranial complications (IC) that are rare but have potential for serious sequelae; therefore, it needs prompt diagnosis and treatment. The first line of treatment is intravenous antibiotic therapy. In case of failure of clinical improvement after 48 hours, hypovisus or negative prognostic factors (intracranial abscess, large orbital abscess or in intraconic or lateral localization, cavernous sinus thrombosis), surgical treatment is indicated. Objective: the purpose of this work is to describe the clinical profile, treatments and outcome of a series of patients undergoing surgical treatment for complications of ARS at a tertiary referral center. Material and methods: a retrospective analysis of clinical databases was conducted to identify all patients under 16 years of age who underwent surgical treatment for complications of ARS during the 20-year period 2000-2023. Demographic characteristics, clinical data, radiological investigations, surgical treatment, and follow-up performed were reported for each case. Results: 29 patients (20 males and 9 females), mean age 13 years, were included, 69% of whom had OC, 21% had IC, and 7% had both OC and IC. The main symptoms of OC were orbital edema, hypovisus and diplopia; while the main symptoms of IC were headache, fever, comitial seizures and focal neurological symptoms. Mean hospitalization time was 11.75 (± 9.2) days. The mean length of hospital stay (LOS) was 9.1 days for OC, 21 days for IC and 14 days for OC + IC. A single patient manifested a Potts Puffy Tumor, with a LOS of 10 days. Basal CT and gadolinium-enhanced MRI were performed in all cases. Intravenous antibiotic therapy and surgical clearance was undertaken. The majority of patients (76%) underwent endoscopic endonasal approach, 24% external transorbital approach, 1,16% orbital decompression and 0,58% superior eyelid approach. Any complications related to the surgical procedures were found. All patients with hypovisus and diplopia had complete recovery. During follow-up 7 patients (24%) had sinus recurrences, at a time range of 1 to 4 years after surgery. Conclusion: our experience, in agreement with the data reported in the literature, confirmed the importance of appropriate diagnostic-therapeutic management to avoid potentially serious sequelae of complicated ARS.

Batch and transport experiments were used to investigate the remediation of a loamy sand soil contaminated with Cr(VI) using zero valent iron nanoparticles (nZVI) stabilized by the carboxy methyl cellulose (CMC-nZVI). The effect of pH, ionic strength (IS), and flow rate on the removal efficiency of Cr(VI) were investigated under equilibrium (uniform transport) and non-equilibrium (Two-site sorption) transport using the Hydrus-1D model. The overall removal efficiency ranged from 70 to over 90% based on the chemical characteristics of the CMC-nZVI suspension and the transport conditions. The concentration and pH of the CMC-nZVI suspension had the most significant effect on the removal efficiency and transport of Cr(VI) in the soil. The average removal efficiency of Cr(VI) was increased from 24.1 to 75.5% when the concentration of CMC-nZVI nanoparticles was increased from 10 to 250 mg L-1, mainly because of the increased total surface area at larger particle concentration. Batch experiments showed that removal efficiency of Cr(VI) was much larger under acidic conditions. The average removal efficiency of Cr(VI) reached 90.1 and 60.5 % at pH 5 and 7, respectively. The Two-site sorption model described quite well (r2 = 0.96-0.98) the transport of Cr(VI) in soil as compared to the uniform transport model (r2 = 0.81-0.98). The average retardation of Cr(VI) was 3.51 and 1.61 at pH 5 and 7, respectively, indicating earlier arrival for the breakthrough curves and shorter time to reach maximum relative concentration at lower pH. The Hydrus-1D model has proven to be an efficient tool for assessing the removal of Cr(VI) pollutants, offering innovative, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly remediation methodologies.

Cohesion in the refractory metals Cr, Mo, and W is phenomenologically described in this work via a n-body energy functional with a set of physically motivated parameters that were optimized to reproduce selected experimental properties characteristic of perfect and defective crystals. The functional contains four terms accounting for the hard-core repulsion, the Thomas-Fermi kinetic energy repulsion and for contributions to the binding energy of s and d valence electrons. Lattice dynamics, molecular statics, and molecular dynamics calculations show that this model describes satisfactorily thermodynamic properties of the studied metals whereas, unlike other empirical approaches from the literature, predictions of phonon dispersion relations and of surface and point defect energetics reveal in fair good agreement with experiments. These results suggest that the present model is well adapted to large-scale simulations and whenever total energy calculations of thermodynamic properties are unfeasible

Aluminum base alloys containing chromium (Cr) and zinc (Zn) were produced using extrusion and heat treated powder metallurgy. Cr addition ranged between 5 to 10 wt. % while Zn was added in an amount between 0 to 20 wt. %. Heat treatment processes were performed during powder metallurgy process at different temperatures followed by water quenching. Similar alloys were extruded, with an extrusion ratio of 4.6 to get proper densification. Optical microscopy was used for microstructure investigations of the produced alloys. The element distribution microstructure study was carried out using the Energy Dispersive X-ray analysis method. Hardness and tensile properties of the investigated alloys have been examined. Wear resistance tests were carried out and the results were compared with these of the Al-based bulk alloys. Results showed that the aluminum base alloys containing 10wt. % Chromium and heat treated at 500°C for one hour followed by water quenching exhibited the highest wear resistance and better mechanical properties.

Background: Pharmacists need up-to-date knowledge and decision-making support in HIV care. We aim to develop MARVIN-Pharma, an adapted artificial intelligence-based chatbot initially for people with HIV, to assist pharmacists, considering evidence-based needs. Methods: From Dec 2022 to Dec 2023, an online needs-assessment survey evaluated Québec pharmacists' knowledge, attitudes, involvement, and barriers relative to HIV care, alongside perceptions relevant to the usability of MARVIN-Pharma. Recruitment involved convenience and snowball sampling, targeting National HIV and Hepatitis Mentoring Program affiliates. Results: Forty-one pharmacists (28 community, 13 hospital-based) across 15 Québec municipalities participated. Participants perceived their HIV knowledge as moderate (M=3.74/6). They held largely favorable attitudes towards providing HIV care (M=4.02/6). They reported a “little” involvement in the delivery of HIV care services (M=2.08/5), most often ART adherence counseling, refilling, and monitoring. The most common barriers reported to HIV care delivery were a lack of time, staff resources, clinical tools, and HIV information/training, with pharmacists at least somewhat agreeing that they experienced each (M≥4.00/6). On average, MARVIN-Pharma's acceptability and compatibility were in the ‘undecided’ range (M=4.34, M=4.13/7, respectively), while pharmacists agreed to their self-efficacy to use online health services (M=5.6/7). Conclusion: MARVIN-Pharma might help address pharmacists' knowledge gaps and barriers to HIV treatment and care, but pharmacist engagement in the chatbot’s development seems vital for its future uptake and usability.

This study proposed the combination system consisting of biogas dry reforming reactor and solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC). Since a biogas dry reforming is an endothermic reaction, this study adopted a membrane reactor operated due to the non-equilibrium state with H2 separation from the reaction space. This study aimed to clarify the characteristics of Ni/Cr/Ru catalyst using for a biogas dry reforming membrane reactor. Additionally, this study also investigated the comparison of the characteristics of Ni/Cr/Ru catalyst with that of Ni/Cr catalyst. The impact of operation temperature, the molar ratio of CH4 : CO2, the differential pressure between the reaction chamber and the sweep chamber and the introduction of sweep gas on the characteristics of the biogas dry reforming membrane reactor using Pd/Cu membrane and Ni/Cr/Ru catalyst was examined. The concentration of H2 using Ni/Cr/Ru catalyst was larger than that using Ni/Cr catalyst by 2871 ppmV for the molar ratio of CH4 : CO2 = 1.5 : 1 at the reaction temperature of 600 ℃ and the differential pressure of 0 MPa without a sweep gas, especially. Under this condition, CH4 conversion, H2 yield and thermal efficiency were 67.4 %, 1.77×10-2 % and 0.241 %, respectively.

Keywords: olfactory rehabilitation; chronic pain; fMRI;

Many studies utilize sensors to measure foot plantar pressure and analyze gait patterns, often focusing on assessing weight-bearing symmetry or asymmetry compared to control groups. However, a critical question arises: does the selection of the control group significantly impact study outcomes? Does chronic low back pain affect foot plantar pressure measurements? This experimental study involved 23 participants, including healthy individuals and those without foot disorders but with chronic low back pain. Dynamic foot pressure measurements were conducted using the Ortopiezometr, and data were analyzed using the "Steps" program. Participants were divided into two groups: Group 1 comprised completely healthy individuals, while Group 2 consisted of individuals without foot problems but with moderate chronic low back pain. The findings highlight a prevalence of energy release in the forefoot sensors compared to the hindfoot for both the right and left legs in most cases. Even among healthy volunteers, achieving perfect symmetry in the maximum values on the sensors for the right and left feet was a challenge. Results showed no statistically significant differences in energy released on specific sensors or duration of gait phases between the groups. Essentially, this suggests that foot pressure patterns are comparable between healthy individuals and those with low back pain. The use of sensor-equipped inserts for pedobarographic examinations indicates that, in cases of degenerative changes in the lumbar and sacral spine without accompanying acute pain, gait patterns resemble those of the healthy population.

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is a distinct category of lymphoproliferative disorder characterized by the clonal expansion of mature B cells, followed by their accumulation in primary and secondary lymphoid organs. Cluster of differentiation (CD) markers such as CD20, CD22, CD23, CD5, and CD81 serve as reliable prognostic indicators and disease progression factors in CLL. The human leukocyte antigen (HLA) system is a critical genetic variable in many diseases, with well-documented associations between HLA and various cancers. This study aims to investigate, for the first time, potential connections between HLA typing and CD marker expression in CLL. Despite being one of the most prevalent neoplasms in developed regions, there is a need for biomarkers that can improve survival predictions and identify possible genetic determinants. Methods: This study included 66 CLL patients and 100 controls, with all samples analyzed using biochemical methods, flow cytometry, and cytomorphology. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) was performed for HLA typing. Results: The results indicate that several CD markers are statistically associated with different HLA alleles. Specifically, CD20 was associated with HLA-DRB1*11:04:01; CD45 with HLA-C*07:01:01; CD79b with HLA-DPA1*02:01:02; CD23 with HLA-B*39:01:01; CD43 with HLA-DRB1*15:01:01; CD22 with HLA-B*49:01:01, HLA-C*07:01:01, HLA-DPB1*02:01:02, and HLA-DRB1*07:01:01; and CD81 with HLA-DPB1*04:02:01, HLA-DQA1*01:04:01, and HLA-DQB1*05:03:01.Conclusion: In conclusion, this research demonstrates significant statistical links between HLA genes and immunophenotypic markers in CLL patients, shedding new light on the immunological context of CLL.

Chronic pancreatitis is a progressive fibroinflammatory disorder with no currently satisfactory treatment. Emerging evidence suggests an association between gut microbial dysbiosis and chronic pancreatitis. Although direct causative evidence is lacking, it is hypothesized that the gut microbiota may play a pivotal role in modulating pancreatic function via the gut-pancreas axis. Thus, modulating the gut microbiota through the administration of probiotics or prebiotics may alleviate pancreatic disorders. In this review, we first propose the potential mechanisms by which specific probiotics or prebiotics may ameliorate chronic pancreatitis, including the alleviation of small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO), facilitation of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) production, activation of the glucagon-like peptide 1 receptors (GLP-1Rs) in the pancreas. Since there are currently no probiotics or prebiotics used for the treatment of chronic pancreatitis, we have discussed research in other disease models that use probiotics or prebiotics to modulate pancreatic endocrine and exocrine functions and prevent pancreatic fibrosis. This provides indirect evidence for their potential application in the treatment of chronic pancreatitis. We anticipate that this research will stimulate further investigation into the gut-pancreas axis and the potential therapeutic value of probiotics and prebiotics in chronic pancreatitis.

Chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) is a group of rare primary inborn errors of immunity characterised by a defect in the phagocyte respiratory burst, which leads to severe and life-threatening infective and inflammatory complications. Despite recent advances in our understanding of the genetic and molecular pathophysiology of X-linked and autosomal recessive CGD, and growth in the availability of functional and genetic testing, there remain significant barriers to early and accurate diagnosis. In the current review, we provide an up-to-date summary of CGD pathophysiology, which underpins methods of diagnostic testing for CGD and closely related disorders. We present an overview of the benefits of early diagnosis and when to suspect and test for CGD. We discuss current and historical methods for functional testing of NADPH oxidase activity, as well as assays for measuring protein expression of NADPH oxidase subunits. Lastly, we focus on genetic and genomic methods employed to diagnose CGD, including gene-targeted panels, comprehensive genomic testing and ancillary methods. Throughout, we highlight general limitations of testing, and caveats specific to interpretation of results in the context of CGD and related disorders, and provide an outlook for newborn screening and the future.

Background Sarcopenia is a state with progressive and generalized loss of skeletal muscle mass and strength. It is a serious complication occurring in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients which increases morbidity and mortality rate. Sarcopenia is diagnosed when loss of both compartments - muscle strength and skeletal muscle quality or quantity are present. However, there are still numerous patients, also with CKD, diagnosed as pre-sarcopenic individuals with low muscle strength and normal skeletal muscle quality or quantity and conversely, with correct muscle strength and decreased skeletal muscle mass, who are prone to develop sarcopenia in future life. It is crucial to examine numerous variables possibly associated with changes of skeletal muscle mass and muscle strength in terms of preventing the development of sarcopenia. The aim of the study was to investigate anthropometric and clinical correlates and sources of variation in both skeletal muscle mass and muscle strength in advanced stages of CKD. Methods The study sample consisted of 84 non-dialysis dependent patients of both sexes (including 45.2% of women) with eGFR < 45 ml/min/1.73m²: 26.2% with eGFR 30-44 mL/min/1.73 m², 65.5% with eGFR 15-29 mL/min/1.73 m² and 8.3% with eGFR < 15 mL/min/1.73 m². Muscle strength was estimated by measuring hand grip strength (HGS) with the use of handheld hydraulic dynamometer. Muscle quantity was measured by bioimpedance spectroscopy using Body Composition Monitor. Appendicular skeletal muscle mass (ASM) was calculated according to Lin’s formula. Serum creatinine, urea, uric acid and albumin were measured. Results In bivariate analysis we found that ASM significantly and positively correlated with anthropometric variables such as body mass (r=0.903, p<0.001), NH weight (r=0.882, p<0.001), height (r=0.694, p<0.001), body mass index (BMI) (r=0.701, p<0.001), lean tissue mass (LTM) (r=0.664, p<0.001), lean tissue index (LTI) (r=0.433, p<0.001), fat mass (r=0.614, p<0.001) and fat tissue index (FTI) (r=0.449, p<0.001), and was negatively associated with clinical variable such as hydration status (p<0.001). HGS significantly and positively correlated with anthropometric parameters such as body mass (r=0.319, p=0.003), NH weight (r=0.315, p=0.004), height (r=0.666, p<0.001), LTM (r=0.490, p<0.001), LTI (r=0.238, p=0.029), and ASM (r=0.501, p<0.001), and was negatively associated with clinical variables like uric acid (p=0.039) and urea (p<0.001). After adjustment for age, sex and height, HGS remained significantly and negatively related with uric acid (β=-1.078, p=0.041) and hydration status (β=-0.805, p=0.042). Conclusions In CKD patients, ASM is determined mainly by anthropometric parameters but HGS - both by anthropometric and clinical variables specific for CKD.

Compared to other 2D materials, MBenes are at an early stage in both experimental and theoretical approaches. However, the wide range of possible 2D structures leads to novel and challenging properties and their consequent applications. From all the possible stoichiometries, we have performed a theoretical study of orthorhombic and hexagonal M2B2 MBenes in the framework of the Density Functional Theory. We have found that both symmetries of Cr2B2, Fe2B2, and Zr2B2 show a metallic behavior and could be grown under certain conditions, as they are demonstrated to be dynamically stable. Moreover, the values of the magnetic moment, in specific ferromagnetic cases exceeding 2.5 μB/M2B2, make them suitable as robust 2D magnets. All our findings represent an important step in the understanding of MBenes and open several windows to future research in fields like energy conversion and storage, sensing, catalysis, biochemistry, or nanotechnology, among others.

Background: Chronic lateral epicondylitis challenges the therapeutical approach; underlying mechanisms are incompletely understood; neuropathic pain and central and peripheral sensitization may explain the fact that botulinum toxin was found to play a role in pain and function management. Methods: We searched the literature for MeSH terms: lateral epicondylitis or synonyms and botulinum toxin. Results: We found 14 papers containing trials on botulinum toxin injection into the tendon or into the extensor muscles (particularly extensor carpi radialis brevis and extensor communis digitorum). We followed the administration pathways, doses, timing and side effects. Conclusion: With chronic course, the focus of the therapy shifts from the afflicted tendon to the inserting muscles, as muscle contracture may create a vicious loop to perpetuate and aggravate the disease. Doses, timing and side effects are discussed.

Background/Objectives: Habituation and sensitization are opposite phenomena that play a role in the pathophysiology of episodic migraine and its progression to chronic migraine (CM). There have been just a few studies that have investigated these phenomena in patients with medication overuse headache (MOH) in comparison to those with chronic migraine (CM) and healthy controls (HCs), and the findings have been inconsistent. Methods: We measured and examined visual evoked potentials (VEPs) in 81 patients with MOH and 24 patients with CM, as well as 24 HCs. The VEPs were used to assess sensitization by analyzing the amplitude of the first block (100 sweeps), and to evaluate habituation by measuring the amplitude response decrement after 6 blocks. We further examined patients diagnosed with MOH based on their acute medication type and after a 3-week acute medication withdrawal program. Results: There were no significant differences between groups in terms of the first N1-P1 VEP amplitude block and its habituation. It was found that patients with MOH had a greater drop in the amplitude of the VEP P1-N2 complex after repeated stimulation than patients with CM or HC. The VEPs parameters showed no significant differences based on the specific overused drug and after a 3-week acute medication off. Conclusions: We propose that the results obtained in patients with MOH indicate an abnormal activation of inhibitory circuits in the parieto-occipital region in response to repeated modulatory stimuli.

Recently, we studied CR-slant warped products B1×fM⊥, where B1=MT×Mθ is the Riemannian product of holomorphic and proper slant submanifolds and M⊥ is a totally real submanifold in a nearly Kaehler manifold. In the continuation, in this paper, we study B2×fMθ, where B2=MT×M⊥ is a CR-product of a nearly Kaehler manifold and establish Chen’s inequality for the squared norm of the second fundamental form. Some special cases of Chen’s inequality are given.

Background: A new coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) that emerged from Wuhan, Hubei Province, China, has spread throughout the world and is declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO). A lot remains to be understood of SARS-CoV-2 and the disease (COVID-19). SARS-CoV-2 has until recently been identified as responsible for both asymptomatic and serious life-threatening infections. The unavailability of specific therapeutic agents is a major hurdle in the treatment and management of COVID-19 patients. The present review attempts to evaluate the immunobiochemical aspects of the pathogenesis, diagnosis, and management of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Main Body: This review is a comprehensive evaluation of the data collected through various sources, including Google Scholar, PubMed, and Scopus. The articles were searched and selected using key words such as “Coronavirus disease (COVID-19)”, “Diagnosis of COVID-19”, Pathogenesis of Covid-19”, “management of COVID-19”, “Immunology of COVID-19”, and “Complications of COVID-19”. The study noted that the novel Coronavirus infection could result in an exaggerated immune response, causing a cytokine storm and damaging several organs of the body. The infected patients develop several complications, including immunological, hematological, and biochemical alterations. Consequently, COVID-19 patients may develop cardiovascular, liver, renal, and neurological complications, among others. Conclusion: An increased understanding of the immunobiochemical aspects of the disease may contribute to better management of SARS-CoV-2-infected persons, as evidenced from the available literature. A holistic approach to the management of COVID-19 patients taking into consideration the effect of COVID-19 infection on various organs of the body assumes increased significance in patient management.

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a disease characterized by local and systemic inflammation independently of the risk factor; during the exacerbations, such inflammation is accentuated and amplified. A practical inflammatory marker and one with an applicable predictive value in the follow-up has been sought. FeNO has shown an excellent performance in that respect within the context of asthma and has also been studied in tobacco-smoke COPD (COPD-TS). In Biomass-smoke COPD (COPD-BS), this, to our knowledge, has not been evaluated. Objective: To measure FeNO levels in patients with COPD-BS and to compare these with those of patients with stable COPD-TS and in healthy controls. Methods: Transversal, observational, descriptive, comparative, and analytical study. A total of 57 patients, including 23 with COPD-BS, 17 with COPD-TS, and 17 healthy control subjects. The measurement of FeNO was carried out on all of these by means of the on-line chemiluminescence technique; the values were expressed in parts per billion (ppb) for their analysis. Results: It was observed that the FeNO values were similar between COPD-BS and COPD-TS and were significantly different between the healthy and stable COPD (both groups). No correlation was found between pulmonary function and symptoms with FeNO in any of the groups. Conclusions: The level of FeNO in stable COPD is found to be increased in a similar manner in COPD-BS and COPD-TS, with a significant difference on comparing it with that of the healthy subjects.

The overarching vision of Society 5.0 seeks to integrate technology to enhance the quality of life and address social issues, with the primary goal of creating human-centered communities, which nowadays represent the inhabitants of Smart Cities. In this context, this work addresses the design of a modular strategic platform for the smart supervision of public expenditure, to be used by the Directorate of Information, Analysis, and Immediate Reaction (DIARI) of the General Comptroller of the Republic (CGR) of Colombia as a significant contribution towards the country’s transition into the Society 5.0. The design was performed by conducting a detailed literature review on fiscal control; a comprehensive analysis of the legal, organizational, and technological aspects of the country and the CGR; and developing six functional modules focused on topics such as continuous learning, strategic decision-making, distinctive value, strategic achievements, capacity building, and organization, within a three-year implementation plan, through a participatory approach. This plan aims to integrate the platform to enable real-time monitoring, early detection of irregularities, and increased transparency in the management of data and public resources. The strategic platform for the DIARI of the CGR is useful for Smart Cities and the transition into Society 5.0 since it ensures efficient public expenditure management, enhancing transparency and citizen empowerment through modern technologies, data analytics, and active participation in governance processes.

Nickel-base superalloys like VDM 780 may possess a high content of Cr and Co. This influences solution energies of phase-forming elements like Al and Ta (γ′-phase), Nb (γ′′- and δ-phase), and Ti (η-phase). We perform density functional theory studies of a nickel matrix at 0 K with high concentrations of either Co and Cr and calculate the influence of these elements on solution energies. In the case of Co, the solution energy can be predicted well by the nearest-neighbor interaction in the Co-rich matrix. For Cr, the effect is more complicated because Cr has a larger ionic radius and changes the magnetic state of the material. The effect of a Cr-rich matrix on the energy of Co is dominated by magnetic effects, interactions with the other elements by elastic deformation of the lattice.

Optical characterization and thermal aging tests are performed on a sputter-deposited coating, consisting of SiO₂/Cr₂O₃/Cr/Cr₂O₃ layers, designed and developed as a selective solar absorber to be used for unconcentrated solar thermal applications. Both measurements are performed by using a home-made apparatus, which mimics a flat plate collector under high vacuum. A Performance Criterion (PC_η(T)), based on absorber efficiency is proposed, and a forecast of service lifetime is obtained. As a result of the thermal aging tests, the selective solar absorber under study appears to be highly efficient at mid temperatures (up to 573 K) and thermally stable at temperatures (up to 690 K).

A highly efficient reduction process of Cr (VI) with biochar was conducted in this paper. The results showed that nearly 100% Cr (VI) was reduced at selected reaction conditions: the dosage of biochar at m (C)/m(Cr) = 3.0, reaction temperature of 90 ℃, reaction time at 60 min and concentration of H2SO4 of 20 g/L, respectively. The reduction kinetics analysis demonstrated that the reduction of Cr (VI) fitted well with the pseudo-first-order model and the apparent activation energy was calculated to 40.24 kJ/mol. Response surface methodology confirmed that all the experimental parameters had positive effect on the reduction of Cr (VI). The influence of each parameter on the reduction process followed the order: dosage of biochar> Concentration of H2SO4 > Reaction Temperature > Reaction Time. This paper provided a versatile strategy for treatment of wastewater containing Cr (VI) and showed a bright tomorrow for wastewater treatment.

In this work, we investigated the effects of heat treatment on the microstructure, hydrogen storage characteristics and corrosion rate of a Ti₃₄V₄₀Cr₂₄Fe₂ alloy. The arc melted alloy was divided into three samples, two of which were separately quartz-sealed under vacuum and heated to 1000 °C for 1 h; one of these samples was quenched and the other furnace cooled to ambient temperature. The crystal structures of the samples were studied via X-ray diffractometry and scanning electron microscopy. Absorption/desorption characteristics were investigated using a Sievert apparatus. Potentiostat corrosion tests on the alloys were performed using an AutoLab^® corrosion test apparatus and electrochemical cell. All samples exhibited a mixture of body-center-cubic (BCC) and Laves phase structures. The corrosion rate, maximum absorption, and useful capacities increased after both heat treatments. The annealed sample had the highest absorption and reversible capacity. The plateau pressure of the as-cast alloy increased after quenching. The corrosion rate increased from 0.0004 mm/y in as-cast sample to 0.0009 mm/y after annealing and 0.0017 mm/y after quenching, due to a decrease in the Cr-content of the C14 phase.

Depression, anxiety, and pain are part of a common phenomenon that requires to be studied together when evaluating patients with chronic pain. The aim of the study was to examine the correlations between depression, anxiety and pain intensity in patients with chronic pain and how they change when a depressive episode was added. A sample of 120 patients with chronic pain (age: 51.90±11.94; 81.7% female; 18.3% male) was studied in two stages with a three-month period between them. Patients with a depressive episode (n=61) were treated with antidepressants and analgesics, while a patient without depression (n=59) was treated only with analgesics. The scales used to achieve the objectives were: HAM-D-17, Spielberger‘s STAI and VAS. Insignificant correlations were found between depression, state and trait anxiety, and pain intensity (p&lt;0,05) in the group without depression, except for a significant one between depression and state anxiety (p&lt;0,01) in the second stage. Significant correlations were identified between all indicators (p&lt;0,01) in the group with depression at the two stages. Those in the second stage were stronger. The interrelations between sensory and affective aspects of pain were stronger when a depressive episode occurs, the severity of which determines their dynamics.

We are presenting a new method for the treatment of large macular holes (MH) with the use of an inverted flap consisting of both internal limiting membrane (ILM) and epiretinal proliferation (EP). A prospective interventional case series was conducted from September 2021 to January 2023. MH patients with coexistent EP visualized preoperatively in macula optical coherence tomography and MH minimum linear diameter larger than 400 microns underwent standard pars plana vitrectomy with the creation of an inverted petaloid flap (consisting of both ILM and EP) and gas tamponade. 16 eyes were included in our study. MH closure was successful in all the eyes with a single procedure. Preoperative minimum linear diameter was 707.63(±164.02μm) and preoperative best corrected visual acuity was 1.11±0.52. Postoperative BCVA was 0.51±0.20 (p=0.01) at 6weeks postoperatively and final BCVA was 0.45±0.20 (p=0.008). EP can be safely combined with ILM for the creation of an inverted, petaloid flap to cover and facilitate the closure of large MH.

The Interdisciplinary Canadian Collaborative ME Research Network (ICanCME), established in 2019, aims to foster research in Canada and contribute to finding the causes and possible treatments for myalgic encephalomyelitis /chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), thereby reducing the impact of ME/CFS on the health of Canadians. The main objectives of this paper are to suggest standards for ME/CFS research for the collection of data from participants (Recommended Data Elements) and to consider other factors, such as design, language, cultural issues, equity, and diversity. Consensus of the relevant contents of this research guideline was reached during the ICanCME working group meetings and were based on existing guidelines. Members of the working group contributed to guideline development based on their respective expertise. The proposed research guidelines could improve research quality and advance knowledge in the field of ME/CFS, and ultimately benefit ME/CFS patients.

Tumid Lupus Erythematosus has been the subject of heated debate as to its correct nosographic classification. In particular, its definition has changed over time, depending on the different studies performed. In this review we address the initial definition of TLE, the changes that have taken place in the understanding and placement within the classification of Lupus Erythematosus (LE), and focus on clinical, histopathological, immunophenotypical and differential diagnosis aspects.

Background. National surveys reported on variable prevalence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) due to differences in characteristics of population, design, equations used to estimate glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and definitions. The EH-UH 2 survey is the first study evaluating CKD prevalence, characteristics and awareness in Croatia. Methods. This was a cross-sectional nationwide observational study designed to assess the prevalence and cardio-kidney-metabolic risk factors in Croatia which included 1765 randomly selected subjects. We estimated the prevalence of CKD by means of albumin-to-creatinine ratio (ACR) and eGFR (CKD EPI equation). Comorbidities, anthropometric and social factors related to the prevalence of CKD were analyzed, and CV risk profile was evaluated. Results. The weighted prevalence of CKD (any stage), CKD stage ≥ G3A A2, and CKD defined only as eGFR < 60 ml/min/1.73 m2 were estimated at 17.1%, 9.8% and 7.9%, respectively. The prevalence was higher in men than in women (11.8% vs. 7.9%; p 30 mg/g was 15.1%. Older age, male gender, diabetes, ePWV, and uric acid were independently associated with CKD prevalence. The awareness of CKD of 9.5%. Unaware were older with lower income, less educated, having more frequently diabetes, hypertension (less frequently controlled) and milder renal impairment. Conclusion. In Croatia, the estimated prevalence of CKD is high, being more frequently presented in men than in women. CKD patients have unfavorable CV risk profile. The awareness of CKD is very low reflecting poor health literacy in general population but also in health care workers.

In Southeast Asia, the incidence of Leukemia, a malignant blood cancer originating from hema-topoietic progenitor cells, is on the rise, marked by a concerning 54% mortality rate. This study focuses on enhancing early-stage prediction to improve patient recovery prospects significantly. Leveraging Machine Learning and Data Science, we employ protein sequential data from frequently mutated genes such as BCL2, HSP90, PARP, and RB to predict Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML). Our approach relies on robust feature extraction techniques, namely Di-peptide Composition (DPC), Amino Acid Composition (AAC), and Pseudo amino acid composition (Pse-AAC), with prior attention to addressing outliers and validating feature selection through the Pearson Corre-lation Coefficient. Data augmentation ensures a well-rounded dataset for analysis. Employing a range of Machine Learning models, including Support Vector Machine (SVM), XGBoost, Random Forest (RF), K Nearest Neighbor (KNN), Decision Tree (DT), and Logistic Regression (LR), we achieve accuracy rates spanning from 66% to 94%. These classifiers undergo comprehensive as-sessment using performance metrics such as accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, F1-score, and the confusion matrix. Our proposed solution, encompassing a user-friendly web application dashboard, presents an invaluable tool for early CML diagnosis with profound implications for practitioners, offering a deploy-able asset within healthcare institutions and hospitals.

Osteoarthritis and chronic pancreatitis comorbidity are insufficiently studied, and the reciprocal impact of these conditions remains poorly understood. This study aimed to investigate potential predictors for the development of osteoarthritis and chronic pancreatitis comorbidity, as well as complications associated with this comorbidity. A cohort of 150 patients was categorized into three groups: a control group (n=30), patients with osteoarthritis (n=68), and patients with comorbid osteoarthritis and chronic pancreatitis (n=52). Potential predictors for comorbidity development and associated complications were explored. The study revealed that concurrent osteoarthritis and chronic pancreatitis exacerbate each other's progression and contribute to malnutrition. Body Mass Index (BMI) emerged as a potential predictor for chronic pancreatitis development in osteoarthritis patients. In osteoarthritis patients, fecal elastase-1 levels were identified as potential predictors for exocrine pancreatic insufficiency. Factors such as WOMAC total score, fecal elastase-1, C-reactive protein (CRP), ferritin, retinol, tocopherol, 25-hydroxy vitamin D3, and BMI were found to influence comorbidity development between osteoarthritis and chronic pancreatitis. Additionally, Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale-Diarrhea Syndrome (GSRS-DS), Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale-Constipation syndrome (GSRS-CS), Qualitative Assessment of the Symptoms and Impact of Pancreatic Exocrine Insufficiency domain A (PEI-Q-A), retinol, tocopherol, and iron were identified as potential predictors for exocrine pancreatic insufficiency in osteoarthritis patients. In conclusion, the comorbidity of osteoarthritis and chronic pancreatitis exacerbates disease progression and complications, necessitating further investigation.

This research investigated high-temperature corrosion (500 °C) of Cr-Mo steel processed using water jet peening or multifunction cavitation (MFC), and the suitability of such steel for high-temperature boilers and reaction vessels. High-temperature corrosion was induced using an embedment test and a coating test using sulfide-type K2SO4-Na2SO4 powder. To measure the relaxation of the residual stress due to the decrease in work hardening caused by an increase in specimen temperature and the difference in thermal shrinkage between the surface and interior of the specimen, a thermal cycling test was conducted. For the MFC-processed specimen, the oxide film that formed on the surface suppressed mass loss, prevented crack formation, and reduced the compressive residual stress caused by high-temperature corrosion. MFC-processed Cr-Mo steel is thus suitable for a high-temperature corrosion environment.

We present a case of adult-onset systemic chronic active EBV disease (CAEBV) in a 40-year-old woman with chronic HBV hepatitis. Initial symptoms resembled a viral illness, progressing to recurrent fever, transaminitis, and anasarca. Investigations revealed high-level EBV viremia and an abnormal T-cell population in liver and bone marrow, indicative of CAEBV. Liver biopsy showed CD3+ T-cells lacking TCRbeta and displaying dim/negative CD5, with elevated EBV-infected T-cells. Next-generation sequencing identified rare variants in CREBBP, SPEN, TP73, and PLCG2, suggesting potential contributions to disease pathogenesis. This case underscores diagnostic challenges and management complexities of adult-onset CAEBV, particularly with underlying chronic HBV infection. Genomic profiling offers crucial insights into the molecular landscape of rare lymphoid malignancies, highlighting the importance of personalized treatment strategies. The distinct immunophenotypic features underscore the heterogeneity in EBV-associated T-cell LPDs, urging further research for optimized clinical management

(1) Background: To substantiate the clinical efficacy and investigate the real-world effectiveness of the herbal medicinal product BNO 1016 in acute rhinosinusitis (ARS) in the context of antibiotic stewardship. (2) Methods: Clinical efficacy: We performed a meta-analysis of the clinical trials ARhiSi-1 and ARhiSi-2 comprising 676 patients, analysing the reduction of the Major Symptom Score (MSS) and improvement of SNOT-20. Real-world effectiveness: In addition, we performed a retrospective cohort study including 203,382 patients, comparing the real-life effectiveness of BNO 1016 in reducing ARS-related adverse outcomes in comparison to antibiotics and several other established therapies. (3) Results: Clinical efficacy: Treatment with BNO 1016 ameliorated symptoms of ARS by reducing MSS by 1.9 points (p&lt;0.0001) and improved quality of life (QoL) for patients by improving SNOT-20 by 3.5 points (p=0.001) in comparison to placebo. In patients with moderate/severe symptoms, the positive effects of BNO 1016 were even more pronounced (MSS: –2.3 points (p&lt;0.0001); SNOT-20: –4.9 points (p=0.0158)) compared to placebo. Real-world effectiveness: Treatment with BNO 1016 was as effective or significantly more effective in reducing the risk for adverse ARS-related outcomes such as follow-up antibiotic prescriptions, sick leave ≥7 days or medical appointments due to ARS, especially when compared to antibiotics. (4) Conclusions: BNO 1016 is a safe and effective treatment for ARS that can help reduce the overuse of antibiotics.

Chronic inflammation may have a detrimental impact on human health as it tends to result in cancer. In addition, it is often linked to different steps that participate in tumorigenesis, including cellular transformation, survival, promotion, invasion, proliferation, angiogenesis, and metastasis. Hence, inflammation predisposes cancer development and plays a vital role in promoting all tumorigenesis stages. Inflammation is caused by many factors, such as bacterial and viral infections, tobacco smoking, autoimmune diseases, obesity, asbestos exposure, and many others, increasing cancer risk. Moreover, cancer can be enhanced by mutations that proceed to cancer progression. Consequently, it leads to immunosuppression and provides a favorable background for tumor development. Although many studies address the question of relationships between inflammation and cancer development, little attention is paid to the link between inflammation and blood cancer. Therefore, the current study reviews the role of inflammation in cancer development, particularly in blood cancer. A meta-analysis research approach meets the research objective and answers the research question. The review results indicate that chronic inflammation directly relates to the development of many cancer types, blood cancer in particular.

Background: Aging is commonly accepted as a time period of declining heath. Aims: This review aimed to examine the research base concerning the use of term ‘successful aging’, a process and outcome deemed desirable, but challenging to attain. A second was to provide related information to demonstrate how health professionals as well as individuals can aim for a ‘successful aging’ process and outcome, despite the presence of disabling osteoarthritis. Methods: Information specifically focusing on ‘successful aging’ and the concept of improving opportunities for advancing ‘successful aging’ despite osteoarthritis was sought. Results: Among the many articles on ‘successful aging’, several authors highlight the need to include, a broader array of older adults into the conceptual framework. Moreover, conditions such as osteoarthritis should not necessarily preclude the individual from attaining a personally valued successful aging outcome. Conclusion: Pursuing more inclusive research and research designs, and not neglecting to include people with chronic osteoarthritis can potentially heighten the life quality of all aging individuals, while reducing pain and depression, among other adverse aging and disability correlates among those with osteoarthritis

Various symptoms have been reported to persist beyond acute phase of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection, which is referred as long coronavirus disease 19 (long COVID-19). Over 65 million individuals suffer from long COVID-19. However, the causes of long COVID-19 have been largely unknown. Since long COVID-19 symptoms are observed throughout the body, vascular endothelial dysfunction may be a strong candidate to induce long COVID-19. The angioten-sin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), the entry receptor of SARS-CoV-2, is ubiquitously expressed in endothelial cells. We previously found that the risk factors for athero-sclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) and the history of ASCVD can be the risk for severe COVID-19, suggesting a contribution of pre-existing endothelial dysfunction to severe COVID-19. Here, we show a significant association of endothelial dysfunction with development of long COVID-19 and show that biomarkers for endothelial dysfunction in patients with long COVID-19 are also crucial players in development of ASCVD. We consider the influence of long COVID-19 on development of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and ASCVD. Furthermore, we suggest the therapeutic interventions for long COVID-19 by considering endothelial dysfunction as the treatment tar-gets for long COVID-19. Such interventions may prevent pandemic of CKD and ASCVD in post COVID-19 era.

We report the case of a 61-year-old woman who was referred to the Oral Surgery and Implantology Unit of the University Hospitals of Geneva to take care edentulous sites after dental avulsions of teeth 11 and 21 following traumatic shock due to endotracheal intubation under general anaesthesia. The dental history revealed that the patient had a history of generalized chronic periodontitis that had been treated several years earlier. Treatment consisted, for the first time to our knowledge, of immediate insertion of implants at sites 11 and 21 with simultaneous bone augmentation in a single surgical procedure and immediate restorations.

This study investigates the synthesis and characterization of zirconium oxide (ZrO₂)-based metal-composites doped with cerium (Ce) and yttrium (Y), using chromium (Cr) and nickel (Ni) as base metals. These constituents were selected for their superior mechanical properties and compatibility with the ceramic phase. High-purity powders were homogenized via high-energy ball milling, followed by cold isostatic pressing (CIP) and sintering in a controlled atmosphere. The sintering process was conducted at various temperatures (850°C to 1350°C) to examine densification, grain growth, and microstructure evolution. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) revealed a homogeneous distribution of phases, with distinct microstructural features attributed to each element at different sintering temperatures. Density measurements using the water immersion method and theoretical calculations demonstrated increased density and reduced porosity with higher sintering temperatures. Vickers hardness testing indicated that hardness improved with increased sintering temperature, peaking around 1150°C due to cerium and yttrium reinforcement within the matrix. Flexural strength tests showed the highest value at 1350°C, with a significant drop in porosity, suggesting enhanced mechanical properties due to efficient doping and phase transformations. Overall, the incorporation of cerium and yttrium significantly improved the mechanical behavior and phase stability of the ZrO₂-Cr-Ni composites, highlighting their potential for advanced engineering applications.

The effects of chemical composition and solidification rate on the solidification behavior of high-Cr white irons were investigated through directional solidification. Increasing the solidi-fication rate in hypoeutectic alloys caused the finer dendrite arm spacing as expected. The eutec-tic structure which formed in the interdendritic region comprised of M7C3 and austenite, how-ever, secondary dendrite arms of hypoeutectic alloys contained a few M7C3 particles that solidi-fied prior to the eutectic structure. The transition from cellular to dendritic solidification oc-curred at a solidification rate between 50 µm/s and 100 µm/s in a near eutectic alloy. In the near eutectic alloy with cellular solidification, a directionally arrayed in-situ composite of M7C3/austenite formed within the cell. Speckle-like feature appeared in the intercellular region due to M23C6 carbide precipitation during subsequent cooling after freezing. Like dendrite arm spacing in hypoeutectic alloys, the inter-speckle spacing and the inter-fibre spacing became finer with increasing solidification rate in the cellular solidification range.

This study investigates the effect of Re addition on the microstructure evolution and oxidation resistance of Co-Cr-Ta-Ti-C alloys. The alloys tested in this study consist of a Co-rich matrix with mixed HCP and FCC phases, together with TaTiC2 and Ti-based carbides. The addition of Re promotes the precipitation and growth of a CoCr-rich σ phase. Differential thermal analysis (DTA) showed that the melting temperatures did not change drastically up to 10 at% Re addition, whereas 15 at% Re addition significantly increased the melting temperature of the alloys. Oxidation tests in air at 1200°C showed that excessive Re content could lead to deterioration in oxidation resistance, mainly due to the accelerated formation of volatile Re oxides.

With the rapid development of industry, Cr has become one of the major heavy metal pollutants in soil, which has caused serious effects on the soil's ecological environment. However, the effects of Cr stress on bacterial communities in plant rhizosphere soils remain unclear. In this study, I. tectorum was selected as the research object, and 16S rRNA high-throughput sequencing technology was used to analyze the effects of Cr stress on the structure and diversity of the bacterial community in the rhizosphere soil of I. tectorum. The results showed that I. tectorum had strong tolerance and enrichment to Cr. However, under Cr stress, the diversity and abundance index of rhizosphere bacteria decreased by 8.5% and 6.8% on average, and the Sobs index decreased by 7.6%. Moreover, the bacterial community changed by 20.1% due to the addition of Cr, further leading to a 15.9% decrease in the common species of the bacterial community, among which Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, Chloroflexi and Acidobacteriota accounted for more than 74.8% of the total sequence. According to the symbiosis network diagram, it was found that under a two-cultivated pattern, the synergizing effect between dominant bacteria was significantly enhanced, and the soil microenvironment was improved. Redundancy analysis showed that C, N, and P nutrient elements and Cr contents in uncontaminated and contaminated soils were the primary driving factors for the succession of I. tectorum rhizosphere bacterial community, and the response was stronger after Cr(Ⅵ) was added. In conclusion, the results of this study will provide insights into the response of rhizosphere bacterial communities to heavy metal Cr and the interactions between wetland plants and rhizosphere bacteria in wetland phytoremediation.Keywords: Cr stress; rhizosphere bacterial community; Iris tectorum; 16S rRNA sequencing technology; Phytoremediation

Heavy metals are non-biodegradable and have a high toxicity effect to living things which makes their presence in the environment extremely dangerous. The method of handling heavy metals waste by photocatalysis techniques using TiO2/SiO2 composite showed a good performance in reducing harmful pollutants. In this study, SiO2 from Bengkulu beach sand was used as a support material for TiO2 photocatalyst to reduce Cr(VI) and Pb(II) concentrations. SiO2 was obtained through leaching techniques using NaOH as a solvent. The TiO2/SiO2 composite photocatalyst were synthesized using a solvothermal method at 130 °C and then characterized using XRD, FTIR, SEM and PSA. Based on the XRD diffractogram, the synthesized TiO2 showed the anatase structure while the SiO2 showed the amorphous structure. Ti-O-Si bond is defined in the IR spectra, which indicates that the relationship between TiO2 and SiO2 is a chemical interaction. The results of SEM and PSA characterizations show agglomerated spherical (round) particles with a mean particle size of 616.9 nm. The TiO2/SiO2 composite of 7:1 ratio showed the highest photocatalytic activity after 180 minutes of UV irradiation, with a concentration-decrease percentage of 93.77% and 93.55% for for Cr(VI) and Pb(II), respectively.

Dental caries is a public health problem worldwide according to WHO data. Among treatments in pediatric dentistry, prefabricated metal crowns (PMCs) have been one of the most successful options since they were introduced in cases of considerable tooth destruction. Our objective was to detect the presence and concentration of iron (Fe), chromium (Cr), and nickel (Ni) in saliva of patients who require rehabilitation with PMCs, before and after their placement. A quasi-experimental study was performed in 32 patients who attended dental care in a pediatric dentistry clinic at a public university and who required rehabilitation with PMCs. Parametric tests (ANOVA and Pearson correlation) were performed, and a p ≤ 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Statistically significant differences were found when comparing the Ni release before, 1 week, and 1 month after placing the crowns. Similarly, we observed a positive correlation between the number of crowns and Ni release. No tests were performed for Fe and Cr because the amounts of these metals were less than 0.1 ppb, which was not detectable by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). The levels of Fe, Cr, and Ni released were below toxic health levels. Studies are required to evaluate whether this release has negative effects at cellular levels.

The blood count is crucial for assessing bone marrow's cell production and differentiation during infections, gauging disease severity, and monitoring therapeutic responses. The profile of blood count in chronic form of paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) has been insufficiently explored. To better understand the changes in hematological cells in different stages of the PCM chronic form, we evaluated the blood count, including immature blood cells in automated equipment, before and during the treatment follow-up of 62 chronic PCM patients. Predominantly male (96.8%) with an average age of 54.3 (SD 6.9) years, participants exhibited pre-treatment conditions such as anemia (45.2%), monocytosis (38.7%), and leukocytosis (17.7%) which became less frequent after clinical cure. Anemia was more prevalent in severe cases. Notably, hemoglobin and reticulocyte hemoglobin content increased, while leukocytes, monocytes, neutrophils, immature granulocytes, and platelets decreased. Chronic PCM induced manageable hematological abnormalities, mainly in the red blood series. Monocytosis, indicating monocytes' role in PCM's immune response, was frequent. Post-treatment, especially after achieving clinical cure, significant improvements were observed in various hematological indices, including immature granulocytes and reticulocyte hemoglobin content, underscoring the impact of infection on these parameters.

A two-layer Fe-Cr-Al-Zr surface alloy was synthesized on a zirconium substrate by magnetron sputtering and subsequent low-energy high-current electron-beam (LEHCEB) processing. Thicknesses of the top Fe69Cr20Al11 (at.%) relatively large-grained (~1 µm) and transition Fe-Zr Cr-Al amorphous layers were about 0.7 and 0.6 µm, respectively. In turn, the amorphous layer consisted of two Fe64–54Zr8–22Cr21–17Al8–7 and Fe40–16Zr42–78Cr12–4Al6–2 (at.%) sublayers, differing in both zirconium and iron concentrations in wide ranges, which were separated by another nanocrystalline interlayer. The Fe-Cr-Al-Zr surface alloy serve as a diffusion barrier, preventing interaction of the zirconium substrate with oxygen from an environment. It was thermally stable up to ≈1173 K.

Alternating TiB2-dcMS and Cr-HiPIMS layers are used to fabricate TiB2/Cr multilayer films. In-troducing a 5-nm-thick Cr interlayer deposited under a substrate bias of -60 V produces slight increases of both film hardness and elastic modulus. The TEM observation indicates that the Cr grains favor epitaxially growth on TiB2 interlayer, forming a coherent TiB2/Cr interface. This produces the hardness increasement. Mechanic measurement by using AFM illustrates that the coherent interface increases the elastic modulus of the Cr up to ~280 GPa, which is significantly higher than bulk material.

Background: beta blockers of three generations are first-line drugs in the treatment of chronic heart failure (CHF). However, to date there is no clear understanding of the effect of beta blockers on myocardial energy metabolism disorders in CHF. The aim of the study: to conduct a study of beta-blockers of different generations on myocardial energy metabolism in the experimental CHF. Methods: CHF was modeled in white outbred rats by administering doxorubicin. The study drugs were administered intragastrically – new drug Hypertril (1-(β-phenylethyl)-4-amino-1,2,4-triazolium bromide)-3.5 mg/kg, metoprolol - 15 mg/kg, Nebivolol -10 mg/kg, Carvedilol 50 mg/kg, Bisoprolol, 10 mg/kg. In the myocardium, the main indices of energy metabolism were determined - ATP, ADP, AMP, malate, lactate, pyruvate, succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) activity, NAD-dependent malate dehydrogenase (NAD-MDH) activity. Results: traditional second-generation beta-blockers (Metoprolol and Bisoprolol) did not affect the studied indices of energy metabolism, and third-generation beta-blockers with additional properties - Carvedilol and, especially, Nebivalol and Hypertril improved myocardial energy metabolism. Conclusions: obtained results will help to expand our understanding of the effect of beta-blockers of various generations used to treat cardiovascular diseases on energy metabolism, and are also an experimental justification for the practical choice of these drugs in the complex therapy of CHF.

Background/Objectives: Caregivers play an important role in supporting care recipients to navigate their health needs including adherence to dietary recommendations which are complex and multifaceted. The study aimed to i) describe the nutrition knowledge of caregivers of people with chronic kidney disease (CKD), and ii) explore caregivers’ perception of their role in providing healthy meals and nutrition support for care recipients. Methods: Caregivers (n=78) of people with stage 1-5 CKD or post-transplant were recruited from a single centre. A sequential mixed-methods approach was used. Nutrition knowledge was assessed with the revised General Nutrition Knowledge questionnaire. Theory informed semi-structured interviews in a sub-sample (n=12) explored caregiver perception. Results: Most caregivers were female (75.6%) caring for a male care recipient (87%; aged 74 (66;80) yrs.). Caregivers (75.6%) provided a meal ≥6 times/week to their care recipient and had moderate nutrition knowledge (66.1 (60.5; 73.9) %). Four themes emerged describing caregivers’ perception on meal provision and nutrition support including i) food literacy skills are valued, ii) social support is important, iii) caregivers’ sense of social responsibility, and iv) meal provision is complex and dynamic. Conclusions: Caregivers have moderate nutrition knowledge; they want to provide healthy meals and support to care recipients to adhere to dietary recommendations. Targeted, co-designed nutrition education programs for caregivers may enhance nutrition care delivery to people with CKD.

Background and objective: Chronic subdural hematoma (cSDH) is one of the most common neurosurgical entities affecting mostly elderly patients. In this study, we aimed to provide detailed characteristics of surgically treated patients with cSDH and evaluate outcomes between the two conventional treatment methods. Materials and methods: Patients with cSDH surgically treated with burr hole craniostomy (BHC) and craniotomy (CO) in tertiary centers in Croatia and Serbia during 2017-2019 were included in the study. Characteristics and outcomes of these patients were prospectively collected. Results: In total, 155 patients (mean age 72.3±13.4) were included in the study. BHC group consisted of 124 (80 %) and CO group of 31 (20 %) patients. 32 (20.6 %) patients presented with bilateral cSDH, head trauma was documented in 92 (59.4 %), and anticoagulant therapy in 37 (23.9 %) individuals. The most common symptom was hemiparesis (n=85, 54.8 %). The two groups did not differ by age. CO group had higher Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score at the admission, with a significant decrease at discharge compared to admission (12.6±4.8 vs 14.4±1.7, p

Background/Objectives: interpretation of evidence on de-escalation of triple therapy with with-drawal of inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) to dual bronchodilator therapy with a long-acting musca-rinic antagonist (LAMA) and a long-acting beta-agonist (LABA) in patients with chronic obstruc-tive pulmonary disease (COPD) is conflicting. We evaluated the efficacy and safety of ICS discon-tinuation from LABA-LAMA-ICS triple therapy compared to its continuation. Methods: we searched PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Web Of Science, clinicaltrial.gov and CENTRAL for RCTs and observational studies from inception to March 22, 2024, investigating the effect of triple therapy de-escalation with withdrawal of ICS to dual therapy on the risk of COPD exacerbation, pneumonia and lung function. This study was registered with PROSPERO, CRD42024527942. Results: 3335 studies were screened; three RCTs and three real-world non-interventional studies were ultimately identified as eligible. Analysis of the time to the first moderate or severe exacerbation showed a pooled HR of 0.96 (95% CI, 0.80 to 1.15; I²=77%) for ICS withdrawal compared with triple therapy continuation. Analysis according eosinophil levels showed that COPD subjects with ≥300 eosino-phils/µL had a significant increase in the incidence of moderate or severe exacerbations when de-escalated from ICS/LABA/LAMA to LABA/LAMA (pooled HR: 1.35, 95% CI 1.00-1.82; I2: 56%). The ICS withdrawal in favour of LABA/LAMA did not significantly affect the risk of mortality and pneumonia. Conclusions: the main findings of this meta-analysis are consistent with current recommendations and suggest that the use of eosinophil counts may be of help in guiding maintenance therapy. However, methodological heterogeneity between the included studies is evident.

Technological advancements in the Internet of Things (IoT), unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), and novel technological tools have transformed disaster management practices from localized approaches to a global framework. These innovations necessitate a unified understanding and application of diverse methodologies at an international level, ensuring they are accessible and operational across different sectors. This integration is crucial not only for technical personnel but also for medical teams, who play a pivotal role in disaster response and management. By fostering a comprehensive grasp of these methods, we can enhance coordination, efficiency, and effectiveness in addressing disasters on a global scale. The authors aimed to provide a comprehensive overview of emerging techniques that are driving shifts in strategic approaches and treatment technologies. Recognized as a domain of continuous research and development, this overview, by necessity, remains an incomplete snapshot of an evolving field. It highlights the dynamic nature of technological and strategic advancements, underscoring the importance of ongoing investigation and innovation to stay abreast of current trends and future directions. The article also highlights the importance of international collaboration beyond societal and national boundaries A single paragraph of about 200 words maximum. For research articles, abstracts should give a pertinent overview of the work. We strongly encourage authors to use the following style of structured abstracts, but without headings: (1) Background: Place the question addressed in a broad context and highlight the purpose of the study; (2) Methods: briefly describe the main methods or treatments applied; (3) Results: summarize the article’s main findings; (4) Conclusions: indicate the main conclusions or interpretations. The abstract should be an objective representation of the article and it must not contain results that are not presented and substantiated in the main text and should not exaggerate the main conclusions.

Background: Osteoporosis and bone fractures affect health and quality of life. Since bone disease is multifactorial, identifying risk factors is key in prevention. There are multiple reports on how viral hepatitis especially chronic hepatitis B (CHB) and chronic hepatitis C (CHC) are affecting bone disease, but results vary. Here, we analyzed the potential association between CHB/CHC and osteoporosis or bone fractures in a large outpatient cohort in Germany. Methods: We included 3,136 outpatients with CHB and 15,608 matched non-hepatitis individuals as well as 2,867 outpatients with CHC and 14,335 matched non-hepatitis individuals from the Disease Analyzer Database between 2005 and 2022. The main outcome was the 5-year cumulative incidence of osteoporosis and bone fractures as a function of either CHB or CHC. Results: Within 5 years of the index date, 2.9% vs. 1.6% of patients with and without CHB were diagnosed with osteoporosis (p=0.001) and 1.0% vs. 0.4% were diagnosed with bone fractures (p<0.001). Moreover, 3.3% of CHC patients and 2.2% of individuals without hepatitis were diagnosed with osteoporosis (p=0.002). In Cox-regression analyses, CHB was significantly associated with an increased risk for osteoporosis (HR: 1.76) and fractures (HR:2.43) and CHC with osteoporosis (HR: 1.54). For both CHB and CHC, the association with osteoporosis was restricted to the female subgroup. Conclusion: CHB and CHC are associated with osteoporosis in women. CHB in male patients is associated with a higher risk of fractures. More research is are needed to understand the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms.

The wealth of data obtained during the past 20 years using Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) indicates that the technique is very promising to detect small chemical contents of alloying elements. The potential of LIBS was looked more seriously during the past two decades or so as more data were obtained on Aluminum and steel to study the phenomena in the condition of local thermodynamic equilibrium and time-delay between a Q-switch laser and an intensified CCD camera. Since the past decade, some data on compounds were also shown to be useful in determining small concentrations of harmful elements. This manuscript is intended to show that the technique of LIBS performance is very promising in fields such as micro-machining, in alloying element analysis, surface cleaning and environmental applications even with lightweight spectrometers having a relatively low resolution, which can potentially be air-borne.

In this paper, Fe-Cr-C-N-Al-Y wear-resistant surfacing alloy was prepared by open arc surfacing with self-shielded flux-cored wire. The wear properties of the surfacing alloy were analyzed by MLS-23 rubber wheel wet sand wear tester. The phase composition and microstructure of the surfacing alloy were analyzed by XRD, SEM, EBSD and TEM, and the strengthening mechanism and wear mechanism of the alloy were discussed. The results show that the microstructure of Fe-Cr-C-N-Al-Y surfacing alloy is composed of M + γ-Fe + M7C3 + AlN. When the content of nano-Y2O3 is 0.456wt. %, the formability of the surfacing alloy is the best and the wetting angle is the smallest, which is 50.8°, AlN and M7C3 precipitate the most, and the microstructure grain is the smallest. At this time, the hardness value of the surfacing alloy is up to 62.3 HRC, which is 11.8 % higher than that of the unmodified surfacing alloy. The minimum wear weight loss is 0.125 g, and the wear resistance is increased by 41.86 %. The wear mechanism of surfacing alloy is mainly plastic deformation mechanism, and the material removal process is micro cutting and furrow wear.

Cationised hemp cellulose was prepared by etherification with two quaternary ammonium salts: 3-chloro-2-hydroxypropyl trimethyl ammonium chloride (CHPTAC) and glycidyltrimethylammonium chloride (GTMAC) and examined for (i) the efficiency of Cr(VI) removal under acid mine-drainage (AMD) conditions, and (ii) antibacterial activity. Adsorbents were characterised by electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), CP-MAS ¹³C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, elemental composition and surface charge. FTIR and solid state ¹³C NMR confirmed the introduction of quaternary ammonium moieties on cellulose. ¹³C NMR also showed that cationisation decreased the degree of crystallisation and lateral dimensions of cellulose fibrils. Nevertheless, 47 % - 72% of Cr(VI) ions were removed from solutions at pH 4, by 0.1 g of CHPTAC and GTMAC-cationised cellulose, respectively. Adsorption kinetics followed the pseudo-second order model and isotherms were best described by the Freundlich and Dubinin-Radushkevich models. When GTMAC-modified cellulose was applied to AMD contaminated water (pH 2.7), however, Cr(VI) uptake removal decreased to 22% likely due to competition from Al and Fe ions. Nevertheless, cationised materials displayed considerable antibacterial effects, reducing the viability of Escherichia coli by up to 45 % after just 3 hours of exposure. Together, these results suggest that cationised cellulose can be applied in the treatment of Cr(VI)-contaminated mine water particularly if pre-treatments to reduce Fe and Al concentrations are applied.

As of now, anthropogenic habitat injury via dissemination of manufactured chemicals is injuring the world’s ecosystems, but doctors have yet to recognize its consequences to humans. Recognition of overt toxicity due to chronic low-dose exposure will open the door to diagnosis, sequential elimination studies, and prescriptions for preventive cure that represent a first step in preventing escalating chronic diseases. This paper offers a diagnostic construct for such use: chronic ambient poisoning. Incorporating it into clinical practice can reduce misdiagnosis of gastro- and near-toxicity that doctors and patients presently suppress rather than remove, and reduce patient co-dependence with proton-pump inhibitors, anxiolytics, and antidepressants—and the thriving “alternative” health industry. This diagnostic elephant-in-the-room is presently missed for reasons of habit (when an ailment is not recognized, it cannot be included in the differential diagnosis) and of poor conduct and interpretation of non-clinical research studies that are taken to mean an absence of evidence is evidence of absence. Moreover, modern methods fail when: the exposure comprises a “daily cocktail” of poisons acting additively, interactively, and cumulatively over a lifetime; when there is no normal, unexposed comparison group; and when absence of a robust etiopathogenetic model disallows inapt statistics. Only patient-led, consultant-informed sequential elimination studies can “peel the onion” of toxicity and its recognition and “preventive cure”. Clinical use of the chronic ambient poisoning diagnosis can thus open the door to stemming and reversing anthropogenic epidemics.

The immune system is central in controlling acute hepatitis B infection and in patients resolving chronic hepatitis B (CHB). Given that 221 million (75%) of CHB patients reside in low- and middle-income countries, developing a vaccine with therapeutic properties represents a rational and cost-effective approach more than a romantic endeavor. This review systematically analyses the critical variables related to the safety, efficacy, and effectiveness of CHB treatments. HeberNasvac's experience is revisited to address the challenges and potentialities of therapeutic vaccines, as well as the current roadblocks in research and development, registration, and large-scale implementation.

This study reports on the assessment of the growth potential of five edible vegetables which were grown in Cr (VI) spiked soils. The vegetable plants that were used in this study were Vigna angularis, Cicer arietinum, Spinacia oleracea, Amaranthus dubius Thell and Phaseolus vulgaris. Dried ground samples from roots, stems and leaves were analysed for various oxidation states of Cr. The daily intake of chromium (DIC), hazard quotient (HQ) and hazard index (HI) methods were employed to assess the potential human health risks posed by these Cr oxidation states through vegetable consumption. The results showed that Vigna angularis was the only vegetable that germinated in highly concentrated Cr (VI) in the simulated soil (456 mg/kg). The highest bioaccumulation factor of CrT in the roots was found in Cicer arietinum at 3.5 ± 0.51 mg/kg DW. The highest translocation factor in stem was that of Cicer arietinum and Vigna angularis at 1.0 ± 0.00, while Cicer arietinum and Spinacia oleracea translocated highest Cr to the leaf at 2.1 ± 0.21. A child or an adult consuming such contaminated Cicer arietinum were likely to take in between 508 -785 mg/kg/day of total Cr which were above the World Health Organisation guidelines of 220 and 340 mg/kg/day, respectively. The highest HQ was found in Cicer arietinum at 8.7 and 13.4 for adults and children, respectively. The same species of plants had also high HI at 17.4 and 27.2 for adults and children respectively. This indicated that consumers of the edible vegetables grown in Cr (VI) rich soil may be exposed to health risks and the children were more likely to be vulnerable to these adverse effects than the adult.

Seawater contamination is a global challenge due to its hazardous effects on marine organisms and human health. Twenty-three surface seawater samples were collected from Al Lith intertidal area along the Saudi Red Sea coast to evaluate the ecological risks and document the potential sources of Cr, Cd, Fe, Zn, and Pb. Contamination factor (CF), contamination degree (Cd), water quality index (WQI), and heavy metal pollution index (HPI), as well as multivariate tools were applied. The averages of HMs (μg/L) had the following order: Zn (6.616) &gt; Pb (0.284) &gt; Cd and Cr (0.268) &gt; Fe (0.197). Results of CF showed moderate contamination of seawater with Cd and low contamination for Cr, Fe, Zn, and Pb. However, 26.09% of the samples showed considerable contamination for Cd. Average Cd values revealed low contamination for HMs, while 17.39% of the samples showed moderate contamination. HPI average values indicated medium pollution for Al Lith seawater, meanwhile 13 samples reported high pollution. The higher HPI values were reported in samples characterized by higher concentration of HMs, particularly Cd and Zn. Correlation matrix and principal component analysis suggested anthropogenic sources for Pb and Zn, mostly from industrial and agricultural effluents, landfilling and domestic wastewaters, apart from their natural sources.

The injury causes resistance in human gastric cancer (GC). This Adverse Outcome Pathway (AOP) entitled “Increases in cellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and chronic ROS leading to human treatment-resistant gastric cancer (GC)” consists of molecular initiating event (MIE) as “Increases in cellular ROS” and “Chronic ROS”, followed by series of key events (KEs); “porcupine-induced Wnt secretion and Wnt signaling activation”, “beta-catenin activation”, “epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), and adverse outcome (AO) as “human treatment-resistant GC” in the sequence. ROS has multiple roles in disease such as development and progression of cancer, or apoptotic induction causing anti-tumor effects. In this AOP, we focus on the role of sustained levels of chronic ROS to induce the therapy-resistance in human GC. EMT, which is cellular phenotypic change from epithelial to mesenchymal-like features, demonstrates cancer stem cell (CSC)-like characteristics in human GC. EMT is induced by Wnt/beta-catenin signaling, providing the rationale to have Wnt secretion and beta-catenin activation as KEs in the AOP.

Epilepsy is known to cause alterations in neural networks. However, many details of these changes remain poorly understood. The objective of this study was to investigate changes in the properties of hippocampal CA1 pyramidal neurons and their synaptic inputs in a rat lithium-pilocarpine model of epilepsy. In the chronic phase of the model, we found a marked loss of pyramidal neurons in the CA1 area. However, the membrane properties of the neurons remained essentially unal-tered. The results of the electrophysiological and morphological studies indicate that the direct pathway from the entorhinal cortex to CA1 neurons is reinforced in epileptic animals, whereas the inputs to them from CA3 are either unaltered or even diminished. In particular, the dendritic spine density in the str. lacunosum moleculare, where the direct pathway from the entorhinal cortex ter-minates, was found to be 2.5 times higher in epileptic rats than in control rats. Furthermore, the summation of responses upon stimulation of the temporoammonic pathway was enhanced by approximately twofold in epileptic rats. This enhancement is believed to be a significant con-tributing factor to the heightened epileptic activity observed in the entorhinal cortex of epileptic rats using an ex vivo 4-aminopyridine model.

Heavy metal contamination is listed among the most alarming threats to the environment and human health. The detrimental effects of heavy metals in the natural environment span from a reduction of biodiversity to toxic effects on marine life - through microplastic born heavy metals -, to impairment of microbial activity in the soil, and to detrimental effects on animal reproduction. A host of different chemical and biological technologies have been proposed to alleviate environmental contamination by heavy metals. Relatively less attention has been paid to the microbial precipitation of heavy metals, as a side mechanism of the most general process of microbially induced calcite precipitation (MICP). This process is currently receiving a great deal of interest from both a theoretical and practical standpoint, because of its possible practical applications in concrete healing and soil consolidation, and its importance in the more general framework of microbial induced mineral precipitation. In this study, we analyse the ability of the marine bacteria Vibrio harveyi in co-precipitating CaCO3 minerals, together with Cd, Cr, Pb, and Zn added in form of nitrates, from solutions containing CaCl2. The precipitated carbonatic minerals were a function of the different heavy metals present in the solution. The process of co-precipitation appears to be rather effective and fast, as the concentrations of the 4 heavy metals were reduced in 2 days by 97.2%, on average, in the solutions.

Mining-induced water contamination remains a significant concern in many regions of the world due to the high concentrations of toxic ions often associated with it. In this study, cellulose-supported ferrihydrite composites (CNF-Fe) were prepared by seeding of ferrihydrite nanoparticles on cellulose nanofibres (CNFs) and employed for the removal of As(III), As(V) and Cr(VI) from contaminated water. The adsorbent was characterized by electron microscopy, gas adsorption, point of zero charge (pH_PZC), X-ray diffractometry (XRD), as well as infrared and Raman spectroscopy. Compared to parent CNFs, CNF-Fe adsorbents had lower crystallinity and a higher surface area: 218.76 m² g^-1. Further, with a pH_PZC of 6.3, CNF-Fe was positively charged at low pH and suitable for adsorption of anions at acidic conditions characteristic of acid mine drainage. In single-ions solutions, the removal efficiency of CNF-Fe was in the order Cr(VI)>As(V)>As(III) (i.e. 0.15, 0.12 and 0.11 mg g^-1 respectively). Adsorption kinetics followed the pseudo second-order model and isotherms were best fitted by the Freundlich, Dubinin-Radushkevich, and Temkin models. However, when CNF-Fe was applied to AMD-contaminated water (pH 2.7), Cr(VI) uptake decreased to ~39% which was likely due to competition from sulphate and selenium ions. Nevertheless, the adsorbent displayed regeneration capabilities with ~98% As and ~45% Cr desorbed after 24 hours of treatment. Together, these results suggest that cellulose supported ferrihydrite composites can be applied in treatment of mine drainage-contaminated water in conjunction with pre-treatments that limit SO₄^2- and selenium concentrations.

Chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) is a primary immunodeficiency caused by a defect in the phagocytic function of the innate immune system owing to mutations in genes encoding the five subunits of the nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADPH) oxidase enzyme complex. This review aimed to provide a comprehensive approach to the pathogens associated with chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) and its management. The topics covered included common pathogens infecting CGD patients, granulomas, and CGD-related infectious diseases, including invasive aspergillosis, Mulch pneumonitis, and liver abscesses. In addition, we also covered the differential diagnosis of CGD and its management. Patients with CGD, often children, have recurrent life-threatening infections and may develop infectious or inflammatory complications. The most common microorganisms observed in the patients with CGD are Staphylococcus aureus, Aspergillus spp, Candida spp, Nocardia spp, Burkholderia spp, Serratia spp, and Salmonella spp. Triple-dose antimicrobial prophylaxis with empiric regimens is recommended. Therefore, therapeutics against this disease must be optimised, considering the lack of curative therapies and the long-term side effects of prophylactic regimens. Consequently, allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation from a human leukocyte antigen-identical donor has been proven to cure CGD.

Chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) is a primary immunodeficiency caused by a defect in the phagocytic function of the innate immune system owing to mutations in genes encoding the five subunits of the nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADPH) oxidase enzyme complex. This review aimed to provide a comprehensive approach to the pathogens associated with chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) and its management. The topics covered included common pathogens infecting CGD patients, granulomas, and CGD-related infectious diseases, including invasive aspergillosis, Mulch pneumonitis, and liver abscesses. In addition, we also covered the differential diagnosis of CGD and its management. Patients with CGD, often children, have recurrent life-threatening infections and may develop infectious or inflammatory complications. The most common microorganisms observed in the patients with CGD are Staphylococcus aureus, Aspergillus spp, Candida spp, Nocardia spp, Burkholderia spp, Serratia spp, and Salmonella spp. Triple-dose antimicrobial prophylaxis with empiric regimens is recommended. Therefore, therapeutics against this disease must be optimised, considering the lack of curative therapies and the long-term side effects of prophylactic regimens. Consequently, allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation from a human leukocyte antigen-identical donor has been proven to cure CGD.

Background: It has been reported that general adiposity in adulthood and early adulthood, and greater height may increase the risk of almost all types of lympho-haematopoietic cancers while a study done in MD Anderson found that obesity and adult weight gain are independent risk factors for CML however no study evaluated the role of obesity in the disease progression while more studies investigate the impact of translocation types. Method: We conducted a retrospective analysis of the files of 37 patients being treated in our center for CML in chronic phase (CMP-CP) with known BCR-ABL1 breakpoints, Results: patients’ management and response assessment was done based on ELN 2013 guidelines. Analysis is done based on two main groups, obese vs normal BMI, and then based on BCR-ABL1 transcripts: e13a2 vs e14a2. Although the number of cases is limited, in the patient-cohort studied an e14a2 BCR-ABL1 transcript type / normal body weight was associated with an inferior outcome when compared to e13a2 transcript / obesity groups Conclusion: our finding suggest the need to enlarge the series to better evaluate a potential role of altered metabolism and/or specific transcripts in the response to TKI in CML.

The effect of transition metal substitution for Fe and the structural and magnetic properties of Gd2Fe16Ga0.5TM0.5 (TM=Cr, Mn, Co, Ni, Cu, and Zn) compounds were investigated. Rietveld analysis of X-ray diffraction indicates that all the samples crystallize in the hexagonal Th2Ni17 structure. The lattice parameters: a, c and unit cell volume show TM ionic radii dependence. Both Ga and TM atoms show preferred site occupancy for 12j and 12k sites. The saturation magnetization at maximum room temperature was observed for Co, Ni, and Cu of 69, 73, and 77 emu/g, respectively while minimum value was observed for Zn (62emu/g) doping Gd2Fe16Ga0.5TM0.5. Highest Curie temperature of 590 K was observed for Cu doping which is 15% and 5% and thesehigher than Gd2Fe17 and Gd2Fe16Ga compounds, respectively. The hyperfine parameters viz. hyperfine field and isomer shift, show systematic dependence on the TM atomic number. The observed magnetic and Curie temperature behavior in Gd2Fe16Ga0.5TM0.5 is explained on the basis of Fe(3d)-TM(3d) hybridization. The superior Curie temperature and magnetization value of Co, Ni, and Cu doped Gd2Fe16Ga0.5TM0.5 compounds as compared to pure Gd2Fe17 or Gd2Fe16Ga makes Gd2Fe16Ga0.5TM0.5 a potential candidate for high-temperature industrial magnet applications.

Palmitoylethanolamide (PEA) has been prescribed for neuropathic pain for several years. This study is mainly addressed to summarize what has been published on the topic in the last decades, and how appropriate the numerous prescriptions are. Among others, it examines the innovative EquiPEA^® patent, which aims to address obstacles encountered with conventional PEA formulations. EquiPEA^® seems to partially ameliorate the bioavailability and the targeted distribution. It seems to introduce novel advancements that have the potential to enhance the therapeutic effectiveness of PEA in terms of its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and analgesic properties. The deep literature analysis aims to examine the potential advantages of this innovative formulation, in the context of several pathological conditions that may benefit from this molecule. In particular, it investigates the potential enhanced bioavailability and targeted delivery system of EquiPEA^®. Also, it tries to understand if it can modernize the field of therapy based on PEA, thus offering a better treatment option for individuals with long-term inflammation, oxidative stress, and neuropathic or mixed pain with a neuropathic component. The study examines the possible impact of EquiPEA^® on personalized medicine strategies and its potential for translation into clinical practice. It analyses the possibilities that EquiPEA^® has in enhancing patient outcomes in a range of central nervous system and inflammatory conditions. This narrative review makes a valuable contribution to the ongoing comprehension of PEA therapy. It establishes a foundation for further exploration in research and potential uses in clinical settings.

This research investigates the impact of Al and Ti elements on the formation of self-generated ordered phase in high-entropy alloys (HEA), which have been receiving widespread concentration in present times thanks to their remarkable multifunctional properties and wide range of component selection. By adjusting the dual elements of Al and Ti, the study explores the regulation of quantity and distribution of the in-situ self-generated ordered phases in the alloy. The results of the annealing heat treatment process demonstrated that, through accession Al and Ti elements, the Cr-Fe-Ni medium-entropy alloy transfer from BCC phase to BCC+FCC phase and the precipitation of new phases such as B2, L21, and σ. This led to a synergistic impact of second phase strengthening, and also of solid solution strengthening, resulting in improved compressive properties of HEA.

A simple, effective and environmental-friendly method was adopted for enhancing the photocatalytic activity of g-C3N4 in the reduction of aqueous Cr(Ⅵ) under visible-light irradiation. The enhancement was achieved via treatment of g-C3N4 in organic solvent with addition of NaOH particles by ultrasonic process for two hours. The results demonstrated that the treated g-C3N4 exhibited much higher photocatalytic activity than pristine g-C3N4 in the reduction of Cr(VI) . Under visible light irradiation for 120 min, the reduced ratios of Cr(VI) with the initial concentration of 50 mg/L in the presence of the treated g-C3N4and pristine g-C3N4 were 100% and 37.1%, respectively. With the addition of fulvic acid, Cr(VI) was efficiently removed at 40 min. Based on the characterization results of the structures and other physiochemical properties of the treated g-C3N4 and pristine g-C3N4 by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and UV Vis diffuse reflectance, the possible reasons responsible for the enhanced photocatalytic activity of the treated g-C3N4 were proposed. The yield and mechanism of different exfoliation methods were compared by semi-quantitative method.

The contact materials in high-voltage vacuum interrupter require properties such as high conductivity, high density, and high hardness to minimize arc heat damage. In this study, copper–molybdenum-chromium alloys contact materials are examined for a high voltage contact material. Ball milling process was carried out after analyzing the raw materials of copper, chromium, and molybdenum powders. A green compact was produced using a high press with the mixed powder. Afterwards, composite was produced by sintering method according to temperature and infiltration method according to Cu content in green compact. The composite of sintering method showed a density of 8.55 g/cm3 (relative density 93%) a hardness of 217 HV, and an electrical conductivity of 40.7 IACS% at 1200 °C. The composite of 10 wt.% Cu produced by the Cu infiltration method showed a density of 8.7 g/cm3 (relative density 94%), Hardness of 274HV and electrical conductivity of 39 IACS% at 1300 °C. The measurements of physical properties showed the new possibility of using the Cu–Cr–Mo alloy as a contact material for high-voltage vacuum interrupters.

Background/Objectives: Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) have an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Carotid intima-media thickness (C-IMT) is a non-invasive marker of atherosclerosis. Low omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) intake and vitamin D deficiency are potential cardiometabolic risk factors in patients with CKD. The aim of this study was to evaluate dietary intake and status of omega-3 PUFA and vitamin D in pre-dialysis and hemodialysis patients and to examine the link of dietary α-linolenic acid (ALA) and fish consumption with blood pressure and C-IMT in CKD patients. Methods: All 77 selected patients (36 pre-dialysis, 41 on hemodialysis) underwent standardized clinical, nutritional, and laboratory assessments. Repeated 24-hour recalls were performed to assess dietary intake. The fatty acid profile was determined by gas-liquid chromatography. Results: Inadequate vitamin D intake and vitamin D status were found in 95% of patients. PUFAs profiles did not differ between hemodialysis and pre-dialysis participants. Dietary intake of ALA was negatively correlated with systolic blood pressure (SBP) (p=0.007), C-IMT (p=0.002), serum CRP (p=0.044), iPTH (p=0.01) and 25(OH)D3 (p=0.006). ALA intake of more than 0.23 g/daily was associated with lower SBP (p=0.001), serum 25(OH)D3 (p=0.004), and C-IMT (p=0.002). Conclusions: This study contributes to a better understanding of the relationship between dietary ALA intake and C-IMT in CKD. The results of this study could emphasize the significant role of the high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency and inadequate omega-3 PUFA intake and status considering CVD health in CKD patients.

Introduction: Patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and multiple myeloma (MM) are susceptible to viral infections, including varicella-zoster virus (VZV) reactivation due to both disease-related and treatment-induced immunosuppression. The recombinant adjuvanted herpes zoster vaccine (RZV) has shown high efficacy in immunocompetent adults, but immunogenicity data in CLL and MM patients is limited. This study evaluates the immunogenicity and safety of RZV in this population. Methods: Patients with CLL and MM vaccinated with RZV (administered in two doses at least one month apart) were included in the study. Pre- and post-vaccination anti-VZV IgM and IgG antibody levels were measured to assess immunogenicity, and adverse events (AEs) were captured for safety evaluation. Results: Seventy-eight patients received both vaccine doses, and 71 had post-vaccination samples. Most of the patients were IgM seronegative and IgG seropositive before vaccination. Pre-vaccination IgG levels were higher in CLL compared to MM patients (p=0.001), while post-vaccination IgG levels significantly increased in both CLL (p<0.0001) and MM (p<0.0001) patients. In actively treated CLL patients, the pre-vaccination IgG levels were significantly lower than in not actively treated patients (p=0.002). Post-vaccination IgG levels were lower in MM patients receiving antiviral prophylaxis concurrently with the vaccination (p=0.013). AEs were reported in 49.4% after the first dose and 48.7% after the second dose, mostly mild (local or low-grade systemic). One case of immune thrombocytopenia was noted. Conclusion: RZV demonstrated strong immunogenicity and acceptable safety in CLL and MM patients, significantly boosting IgG levels, even in actively treated or heavily pretreated patients.

Abstract Background: Periodontitis is associated with systemic chronic inflammatory diseases. There is limited evidence on the influence of anti-cytokine therapies on the periodontal condition and microbiome in the tooth pocket of such patients, so the aim of this study was to elucidate this issue. Methods: In this observational trial, the periodontal status and the gingival crevicular fluid of 13 patients with different chronic inflammatory diseases were obtained before initiation of anti-cytokine treatment and 14 weeks after. Gingival crevicular fluid was collected for 16S rRNA gene sequencing from a clinically healthy tooth and the deepest measured pocket. Results: In participants with advanced attachment loss at baseline, the clinical attachment level significantly decreased from 2.9 (2.3-3.4) to 2.4 (1.3-3.0) mm (p = 0.04), and the bleeding- on-probing index dropped from 19.4 (10.0-21.0) to 7.3 (6.9-9.9) mm (p = 0.02) without any further periodontal treatment. Shannon’s diversity index significantly increased in the deepest pockets of patients (p = 0.039). Conclusion: The data showed alterations in diversity of the subgingival microbiome and improvement of periodontal parameters over the course of the study, implying a shift towards a healthier condition after starting anti-cytokine therapy. Additional investigations are needed to analyze whether the administration of selective biologicals can improve periodontal conditions in patients with or without chronic inflammatory diseases.

Vitamin D has important anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial properties and plays a central role in host immune response. Due to the crucial role of the kidneys in the metabolism of vitamin D, patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), are prone to vitamin D deficiency. The resultant reduction in the production of calcitriol, the activated form of vitamin D in patients with CKD is responsible for exacerbating the existing renal impairment and periodontal inflammation. Recent evidence suggests a bidirectional, causal relationship between periodontitis and renal functional status. Both conditions have shared pathophysiologic mechanisms including oxidative stress, increases in the systemic inflammatory burden and impaired host response. This review explores the association between vitamin D, CKD and periodontitis. The review summarises the current evidence base for the classical and non-classical vitamin D metabolic pathways, the biological mechanisms linking vitamin D deficiency, CKD and periodontitis, as well as the bidirectional relationship between the two chronic inflammatory conditions. Finally, the paper explores the impact of vitamin D deficiency on CKD, periodontitis, and related co-morbidities.

Despite advances in conservation-restoration treatments, most surface cleaning tests are subjectively evaluated. Scores according to qualitative criteria are employed to assess results, but these can vary by user and context. This paper presents a range of cleaning efficacy and homogeneity evaluation metrics for appraising cleaning trials, which minimise user bias by measuring quantifiable changes in the appearance and characteristic spectral properties of surfaces. The metrics are based on various imaging techniques (optical imaging by photography using visible light (VIS); spectral imaging in the visible-to-near-infrared (VNIR) and shortwave infrared (SWIR) ranges; chemical imaging by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectral mapping in the mid-infrared (MIR) range; and scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDX) element mapping). They are complemented by appearance measurements (glossimetry and colorimetry). As a case study showcasing the low-cost to high-end metrics, agar gel spray cleaning tests on exposed ground and unvarnished oil paint mock-ups are reported. The evaluation metrics indicated that spraying agar (prepared with citric acid in ammonium hydroxide) at a surface-tailored pH was a safe candidate for efficacious and homogenous soiling removal on water-sensitive oil paint and protein-bound ground. Further research is required to identify a gel-based cleaning system for oil-bound grounds.

In Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML) patients, CD34+/CD38-/CD26+ cell population represents a “CML specific” Leukemia Stem Cell (LSC) compartment. Indeed, preliminary studies showed that the expression of CD26 discriminates bone marrow CML Leukemic Stem Cells (LSCs) from nor-mal Hematopoietic Stem Cells (HSCs) or from LSCs of other myeloid neoplasms. We were first to demonstrate that at diagnosis CD34+/CD38-/CD26+ cells are easily measurable also in Peripheral Blood (PB) and that residual circulating CD26+LSCs persist, with a fluctuating trend, in most pa-tients in optimal response during treatment with Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors (TKIs) and even after successful TKI discontinuation. These data corroborate and confirm the possibility of using flow-cytometry CD26+ evaluation as an important diagnostic tool that, combined with molecular biology and cytogenetic, could provide a rapid diagnosis of Chronic Phase (CP) CML starting from a simple PB sample. Yet, few data are available regarding the behavior of CD26+LSCs during Accelerated Phase (AP) or Blast Phase (BP) CML and the role, if any, this peculiar staminal cell compartment may play in disease progression. In the present study we compared the presence and phenotypic characteristics of circulating CD26+LSCs in CP CML patients at diagnosis, during AP and in cases of progression to lymphoid BP, inquiring a possible role of these cells during dis-ease evolution.

: This article was not intended to be a complete report of a standard clinical trial. It is a report of the outcomes of preliminary data for validation of the CMECD procedure (Coletti Method of EMG ChemoDenervation) protocol for the treatment of chronic pain resulting from chronic muscle spasm. Methods are here detailed on how to approach the patient with chronic pain, identify the presence of chronic muscle spasm, undertake the treatment protocol and how to perform the follow up process to confirm that chronic pain secondary to chronic muscle spasm was the accurate diagnosis. Furthermore, this article presents the results of a cohort of more than 90 patients treated by the CMECD procedure regarding location and duration of prior pain, prior treatment strategies, degree of success in resolving pain and duration of relief. Outcome data consisting of patient and staff reporting of specific situations in which the chronic pain treatment was successful has been included to help establish the “believability” of outcome successes and to elucidate the potential life altering effects of successful treatment of chronic pain secondary to chronic muscle spasm. This article will hopefully increase the interest in this treatment protocol and increase the chance that a classical international clinical trial will be undertaken.

This study focuses on the analyses of nano-twinned Copper (Cu) films deposited through magnetron sputtering on Silicon Carbide (SiC) chips. The investigation encompasses the utilization of Chromium (Cr) adhesive layer coupled with varying voltage bias conditions. The goal is to comprehensively examine the influence of adhesive layer and negative bias voltages, contributing to an enhanced understanding of materials engineering and bonding technologies for advanced applications. The formation of a nanotwinned structure and (111) surface orientation can be properly controlled by applied substrate bias. High density nanotwinned structures were introduced into Cu films sputtered on SiC substrates with 82.3% of (111)-orientation proportion at -150 V much higher than the Cu film sputtered with another substrate bias. It is concluded that the sputtered Cu nanotwinned film formed with -150 V bias voltage has the potential to be employed as the interlayer for low temperature direct bonding.

Pakistan being an agricultural country is raising 146.5 million commercial and domestic poultry birds which generate around 544,831 tons of waste. This waste finds its final disposal in agricultural land as soil fertilizer or disposal site amendment. The uncontrolled use of poultry litter for this purpose results in environmental impacts such as the emission of methane, a greenhouse gas. However, other options like thermochemical conversion of this waste can offer a better solution wherein poultry litter can be used as low-cost carbon sources for the synthesis of Carbon Nanotubes (CNTs). In this study, efforts have been made to utilize this cheap and plenty of available carbon source for synthesis of CNTs in the presence of Ni/Mo/MgO as a catalyst, through pyrolysis. The optimum mole ratio of catalyst (4:0.2:1) was found to yield more carbon product. Furthermore, process parameters such as temperature, time, polymer & catalyst weight were also optimized. The best possible process parameters that resulted (pyrolysis time (12 min), temperature (825◦C), and catalyst weight (100 mg) good yield of CNTs . The structure and morphology of produced nanotubes were confirmed through X-ray Diffractometer (X-RD) & Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). The environmental application of the nanotubes was tested in synthetic chromium solution in the lab using a batch experiment. Different experimental conditions (pH, adsorbent dosage and contact time) were optimized to enhance the adsorption of Cr (VI) by carbon nanotubes and UV-Visible spectrophotometer was used at 540nm to measure the absorbance of Cr (VI). Results show that up to 81.83% of Cr (VI) removal was achieved by using 8 mg of CNTs at pH 3 with 400 rpm at 180 min of contact time. Thus, it was concluded that poultry litter can be a useful source for the synthesis of CNTs and thereby removal of Cr (VI) from industrial tanneries wastewater.