Molecular Structures of Surfaces and Interfaces of Poly(dimethylsiloxane) Incorporated with Silicone Oils Containing Phenyl Functionality.

Poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) materials have been widely researched and applied as fouling-release coatings. Incorporation of silicone oils into PDMS has been shown to improve the antifouling properties of PDMS materials. In this research, we applied sum frequency generation (SFG) vibrational spectroscopy to study PDMS materials incorporated with various silicone oils containing phenyl groups in air, water, and protein solutions.

Appropriateness of urine culture requests in primary care in Spain: A cross-sectional descriptive study.

Objective: Studies evaluating urine culture requests in our country have highlighted a high rate of requests that fall outside the indications specified in clinical guidelines. We evaluated the current degree of inadequacy in the request of urine cultures and how this influences the therapeutic decisions of general practitioners.

Design: Cross-sectional descriptive study.

Head and Neck Rhabdomyosarcoma in Pediatric Patients: An International Collaborative Study.

Background: Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS), a rare malignant tumor, frequently affects pediatric patients, with 35%-40% occurring in the head and neck. This study analyzes the clinicopathologic profile of pediatric head and neck rhabdomyosarcomas from Brazil, Guatemala, Mexico, and South Africa.

Methods: We reviewed 44 cases from 10 Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology services, conducting immunohistochemical analyses of desmin, myogenin, Myo-D1, and Ki67, with quantification via QuPath software.

Mercury removal from mining wastewater by bioaccumulation and thermal separation in Eichhornia crassipes.

Environmental problems persist due to mercury from artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) as well as ecological problems associated with the macrophyte Eichhornia crassipes Martius (EC). Environmental problems persist due to mercury contamination from artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) and ecological issues related to the macrophyte Eichhornia crassipes Martius (EC). A bioaccumulation study was conducted on mercury-laden wastewater (WWm) from ASGM using a pilot treatment plant, specifically a constructed wetland system (CW) with the macrophyte species EC.

Effects of 3-day fasting on secretory IgA concentration in the saliva and lymphotoxin alpha expression in healthy volunteers: a proof of concept study.

Background: animal studies have shown that enteral stimuli play an important role in modulating gut-associated lymphoid tissue.

Objective: the main objectives of this study were 1) to evaluate the effect of 3-day fasting on secretory immunoglobulin A (S-IgA) in parotid saliva and 2) to determine the levels of lymphotoxin (LT) transcription in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMNC) from healthy volunteers as a proxy for studying GALT health.

Methods: these adult volunteers had fasted for three days as part of a cultural ritual.