Nursing as a Functional System of Society. A Systems Theoretical Perspective on Nursing and the Research Object of Nursing Science.

The transformation of societies' age structures has intensified the need for nursing care, especially in economically developed regions of the world. This will necessitate societal decisions that determine how care needs are met in the long term. This article offers a sociological perspective on nursing care using Luhmann's systems theory.

Inferring Tripartite Associations of Vector-Borne Plant Pathogens Using a Next-Generation Sequencing Approach.

Phytoplasmas are a group of plant-pathogenic, cell-wall-less bacteria vectored primarily by leafhoppers (Hemiptera Cicadellidae), one of the most diverse families of insects. Despite the importance of documenting associations between phytoplasmas, their insect vectors, and plant hosts to prevent disease outbreaks, such knowledge is currently highly incomplete and largely neglects the diversity of the system in natural areas. Here, we used anchored hybrid enrichment (AHE) to recover the DNA of five plant genes (, , , , and ) in 58 phloem-feeding leafhoppers from around the world that had previously tested positive for phytoplasma infection.

Comments and Illustrations of the European Federation of Societies for Ultrasound in Medicine Guidelines: Benign Pleura Lesions (Benign Pleura Thickening, Lesions and Masses)-What Can Be Seen on Transthoracic Ultrasound?

Pleural thickening can be the result of inflammation or infection but can also have a neoplastic origin. Depending on the clinical context, a pleural lesion or mass is often initially suspected of malignancy. Benign pleural tumors are rare, and their appearance on ultrasound (US) is also described less frequently than pleural metastases or malignancies.

Differentiating Benign from Malignant Causes of Splenomegaly: Is Acoustic Radiation Force Impulse Elastography Helpful?

Purpose: To evaluate the ability of acoustic radiation force impulse (ARFI) elastography in differentiating benign from malignant etiologies of splenomegaly based on differences in splenic stiffness.

Materials And Methods: Between September 2020 and November 2022, we evaluated 40 patients with splenomegaly-defined by a splenic long axis greater than 13 cm and/or a short axis greater than 6 cm, without visible focal or infiltrative mass lesions-using abdominal ultrasound at our university hospital. Each patient also underwent a standardized ARFI elastographic assessment of the enlarged spleen, with data collected prospectively.

Endosonography in head and neck imaging and surgery.

This CME article explores the evolving role of endosonography in otorhinolaryngology and head and neck surgery. Endosonography offers significant potential to improve imaging inside the upper respiratory tract, particularly with advancements in probe technology and imaging resolution. The article will describe the sonoanatomy of the oral cavity, pharynx, and larynx and the selection of probes and scanning techniques used for the various anatomical sites.