Urine levels of nicotine and its metabolites in young population exposed to second-hand smoke in nightclubs: a pilot study.

The aim of this study was to investigate the extent of second-hand smoke exposure in younger population visiting nightclubs in Croatia by comparing the levels of nicotine and its main metabolites cotinine and trans-3'-hydroxycotinine (3HC) in urine samples taken from 22 participants before and after spending about three hours in a nightclub, stratified by smoking status (smokers and non-smokers). The samples were prepared by liquid-liquid extraction and analysed with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The presence of nicotine, cotinine, and 3HC was confirmed in all urine samples.

Does Sunlight Affect the Quality for Purposes of DNA Analysis of Blood Stain Evidence Collected from Different Surfaces?

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of sunlight on the degradation of DNA samples taken from blood stains from different types of surfaces. A blood sample obtained from a single male donor was placed on seven different surfaces (galvanized sheet, iron rod, newspaper, white printer paper, glass, soil, and ceramic panel). Samples were kept, during a 4-week summer period, in a room, but next to an open window.

Trends in neonatal morbidity and mortality for very low birthweight infants: a 20-year single-center experience.

Objective: To describe trends in mortality and morbidity rates of very low birth weight infants as well as their pre-, peri- and postnatal characteristics over a period of 20 years' time.

Methods: Retrospective study in all very low birth weight infants admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit of the University Hospitals Ghent from 1 January 2000, to 31 December 2020. Mortality was the primary outcome variable with major morbidities being co-primary outcome variables.

Expectant Management or Early Ibuprofen for Patent Ductus Arteriosus.

Background: Cyclooxygenase inhibitors are commonly used in infants with patent ductus arteriosus (PDA), but the benefit of these drugs is uncertain.

Methods: In this multicenter, noninferiority trial, we randomly assigned infants with echocardiographically confirmed PDA (diameter, >1.5 mm, with left-to-right shunting) who were extremely preterm (<28 weeks' gestational age) to receive either expectant management or early ibuprofen treatment.

Mitochondria-originated redox signalling regulates KLF-1 to promote longevity in Caenorhabditis elegans.

Alternations of redox metabolism have been associated with the extension of lifespan in roundworm Caenorhabditis elegans, caused by moderate mitochondrial dysfunction, although the underlying signalling cascades are largely unknown. Previously, we identified transcriptional factor Krüppel-like factor-1 (KLF-1) as the main regulator of cytoprotective longevity-assurance pathways in the C. elegans long-lived mitochondrial mutants.