Six-month randomized, placebo controlled trial of synbiotic supplementation in women with polycystic ovary syndrome undergoing lifestyle modifications.

Purpose: To determine whether long-term administration of synbiotics affects clinical, endocrine and metabolic aspects of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) in overweight and obese subjects undergoing intensive lifestyle modifications.

Methods: During six-month trial, all subjects underwent intensive lifestyle modifications (diet and exercise). The subjects were randomized (1:1) to receive synbiotic supplementation (Synbiotic Group) or placebo (Placebo Group).

[18F]FDG PET/CT Imaging and Hematological Parameters Can Help Predict HPV Status in Head and Neck Cancer.

Objective: To determine whether [F]FDG PET/CT and hematological parameters provide supportive data to determine HPV status in HNSCC patients.

Methods: Retrospective analysis of clinical and diagnostic data from 106 patients with HNSCC: 26.4% HPV-positive and 73.

Impact of LED radiation intensity on gold nanoparticles photodeposition on TiO with physicochemical and photocatalytic characterization.

This study investigates the influence of LED radiation intensity on the photodeposition of gold nanoparticles onto TiO substrates, examining their physicochemical properties and photocatalytic activities. Utilizing a range of radiation intensities and wavelengths, TiO-Au composites were synthesized and characterized through techniques such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with energy dispersive X-ray (EDX), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The deposition process, markedly enhanced by shorter wavelengths and higher intensities, efficiently formed gold nanoparticles.

Silactins and Structural Diversity of Biosilica in Sponges.

Sponges (phylum Porifera) were among the first metazoans on Earth, and represent a unique global source of highly structured and diverse biosilica that has been formed and tested over more than 800 million years of evolution. Poriferans are recognized as a unique archive of siliceous multiscaled skeletal constructs with superficial micro-ornamentation patterned by biopolymers. In the present study, spicules and skeletal frameworks of selected representatives of sponges in such classes as Demospongiae, Homoscleromorpha, and Hexactinellida were desilicified using 10% HF with the aim of isolating axial filaments, which resemble the shape and size of the original structures.

3D Spongin Scaffolds as Templates for Electro-Assisted Deposition of Selected Iron Oxides.

The skeletons of marine sponges are ancient biocomposite structures in which mineral phases are formed on 3D organic matrices. In addition to calcium- and silicate-containing biominerals, iron ions play an active role in skeleton formation in some species of bath sponges in the marine environment, which is a result of the biocorrosion of the metal structures on which these sponges settle. The interaction between iron ions and biopolymer spongin has motivated the development of selected extreme biomimetics approaches with the aim of creating new functional composites to use in environmental remediation and as adsorbents for heavy metals.