Deciphering the concurrent phenomenon of childhood malnutrition by using the extended composite index of anthropometric failure (ECIAF): facts from the BESLEN project.

Objective: To investigate the co-existence of single and multiple anthropometric failures among children using an extended composite index of anthropometric failure (ECIAF). This study aims to elucidate the complex interplay between child-specific and maternal factors, highlighting the multifaceted nature of childhood malnutrition.

Design: A multicentre cross-sectional study as part of the BESLEN project.

Radiofrequency ablation versus microwave ablation for colorectal liver metastases: long-term results of a retrospective cohort surgical experience.

Background: Ablation is an alternative treatment modality for selected patients with colorectal liver metastases (CRLMs). Although initially widely performed via radiofrequency ablation (RFA), more recently, microwave ablation (MWA) is being preferred due to its perceived superiority in creating the ablation zones. The aim of this study is to compare the long-term efficacy of these two modalities performed surgically.

Electronic detection of apoptotic cells on a microchip.

Robust and rapid detection of apoptosis in cells is crucially needed for diagnostics, drug discovery, studying pathogenic mechanisms and tracking patient response to medical interventions and treatments. Traditionally, the methods employed to detect apoptosis rely on complex instrumentation like flow cytometers and fluorescence microscopes, which are both expensive and complex-to-operate except in centralized laboratories with trained labor. In this work, we introduce a microfluidic device that can screen cells in a suspension for apoptosis markers and report the assays results as electronic data.

A comparison of three different microwave systems for laparoscopic liver tumor ablation.

Background: Our aim was to perform a comparison of three current microwave ablation (MWA) systems widely used for laparoscopic liver ablations in terms of ablation kinetics and geometry of ablation zones.

Methods: This was a retrospective, institutional review board-approved study comparing Emprint, Emprint HP, and NeuWave systems for laparoscopic liver ablation. Analyses were performed via Mann-Whitney U and χ tests.

Enhancement of soybean tolerance to water stress through regulation of nitrogen and antioxidant defence mechanisms mediated by the synergistic role of salicylic acid and thiourea.

Water stress (WS) poses a significant threat to global food and energy security by adversely affecting soybean growth and nitrogen metabolism. This study explores the synergistic effects of exogenous salicylic acid (SA, 0.5 mM) and thiourea (TU, 400 mg L), potent plant growth regulators, on soybean responses under WS conditions.