Outbreak of hantavirus disease caused by Puumala virus, Croatia, 2021.

In 2021, a large outbreak of hantavirus disease (HAVID) in Croatia with 334 notified cases coincided with a COVID-19 wave and included patients from areas previously not considered endemic, challenging HAVID recognition and patient management. We analysed clinical and epidemiological data on all 254 patients with HAVID treated in the Clinical Hospital Center Rijeka (CHC Rijeka) between February and November 2021. Most patients (n = 246; 96.

Ergothioneine improves healthspan of aged animals by enhancing cGPDH activity through CSE-dependent persulfidation.

Ergothioneine (ET), a dietary thione/thiol, is receiving growing attention for its possible benefits in healthy aging and metabolic resilience. Our study investigates ET's effects on healthspan in aged animals, revealing lifespan extension and enhanced mobility in Caenorhabditis elegans, accompanied by improved stress resistance and reduced age-associated biomarkers. In aged rats, ET administration enhances exercise endurance, muscle mass, and vascularization, concomitant with higher NAD levels in muscle.

Dataset on hydrogeochemical characteristics of spring and surface waters in the complex karst catchment area of Southern Dalmatia (Croatia) and Western Herzegovina (Bosnia and Herzegovina).

Large and complex karst catchments, like the one in Southern Dalmatia (Croatia) and Western Herzegovina (Bosnia and Herzegovina), are fragile environments requiring careful protection and sustainable water resources management. Understanding the processes that influence karst aquifer water chemistry is essential for the effective protection of water quality and quantity, ensuring sustainable resource availability and minimizing vulnerability to contamination. A hydrogeochemical dataset comprising over 30 groundwater (springs) and surface water samples, was collected in this cross-border catchment area from September 2013 to September 2020, accounting for seasonal variations.

Triple inhaled therapy in asthma: Beliefs, behaviours and doubts.

Long-acting muscarinic antagonists (LAMA) in association with inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) plus long-acting beta-2 agonists (LABA) are recommended by the GINA report as further option in step 4 and first choice in step 5 treatment. Despite consistent evidence of its efficacy and safety, inhaled triple therapy (ITT) is still not largely used in patients with asthma. With the aim to explore belief and behaviours of asthma specialists, an ad hoc survey has been developed by a panel of Interasma Scientific Network (INESnet) experts and subsequently defined by two Delphi rounds among an international group of physicians.

Gastric ultrasound performance time and difficulty: a prospective observational study.

Introduction: Point-of-care gastric ultrasound is an emerging tool in peri-operative practice. However, data on the technical challenges of gastric ultrasound, which are essential for optimised training, remain scarce. We analysed gastric ultrasound examinations performed after basic training to identify factors associated with difficulty.

Eye tracking during a simulated start of shift safety check: An observational analysis of gaze behavior of critical care nurses.

Background: The handover and associated shift start checks by nurses of critical care patients are complex and prone to errors. However, which aspects lead to errors remains unknown. Fewer errors might occur in a structured approach.

Modulation of Notch signaling pathway in activated hepatic stellate cells does not ameliorate the outcome of liver fibrosis in carbon tetrachloride and DDC-feeding models.

Background: Recent research suggests a possible role of Notch signaling pathway in development of liver fibrosis, but exact cellular and molecular mechanisms are still not well defined. Methods: We modulated Notch signaling in activated hepatic stellate cells/myofibroblasts using the model of inducible activation or inhibition of Notch signaling selective for αSMA positive cells in murine models of toxic fibrosis induced by CCl4 and cholestatic fibrosis induced by DDC supplemented feeding.

Results: Our results confirm that Notch signaling pathway is activated in both CCL4 and DDC model of liver fibrosis and that αSMA positive myofibroblasts are of activated hepatic stellate cells origin.

PTPRK regulates glycolysis and de novo lipogenesis to promote hepatocyte metabolic reprogramming in obesity.

Fat accumulation, de novo lipogenesis, and glycolysis are key drivers of hepatocyte reprogramming and the consequent metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). Here we report that obesity leads to dysregulated expression of hepatic protein-tyrosine phosphatases (PTPs). PTPRK was found to be increased in steatotic hepatocytes in both humans and mice, and correlates positively with PPARγ-induced lipogenic signaling.

The effect of aging on mast cell density in human skin: a comparative analysis of photoexposed and photoprotected regions.

Background: Mast cells are mononuclear cells originating from bone marrow. They produce various biologically active substances, which allow them to actively participate in immune and inflammatory processes associated with intrinsic and extrinsic skin aging. This research focused on distribution and density of mast cells in healthy skin in different stages of skin aging.

Multicomponent family support intervention in intensive care units: statistical analysis plan for the cluster-randomized controlled FICUS trial.

The FICUS trial is a cluster-randomized superiority trial to determine the effectiveness of a nurse-led, interprofessional family support intervention (FSI) on the quality of care, family management and individual mental health of family members of critically ill patients, compared to usual care. This paper describes the statistical analysis plan of the FICUS trial. The primary outcome is quality of family care, assessed by the Family Satisfaction in ICU Questionnaire (FS-ICU-24R) at patient discharge from the ICU.

Distinct association patterns of chemokine profile and cardiometabolic status in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes and obesity.

Objective: We compared peripheral blood (PBL) chemokine ligand/receptor profiles in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1D) or obesity (OB) (both involving inflammation and vascular complications) to identify their associations with cardiometabolic risk factors.

Materials And Methods: PBL samples from children and adolescents (12-18 years) included: healthy controls (n=29), patients with T1D (n=31) and OB subjects (n=34). Frequency of mononuclear cell populations and chemokine receptor expression (CCR2, CCR4, CXCR3, CXCR4) were determined by flow cytometry.

Dynamically Normalized Pupillometry for Detecting Delayed Cerebral Ischemia After Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage.

Objectives: Delayed cerebral ischemia (DCI) is a major driver of morbidity after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH). Quantitative pupillometry has been shown to be of prognostic value after acute neurological injury. However, the evidence for the use of pupillometric features for the detection of DCI has been conflicting.

Correlation between the Oral and Mental Health of University Students in Serbia-A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: This cross-sectional study aimed to assess the correlation between subjective oral health status and mental health in a group of university students in Serbia.

Methods: The study included 948 students, aged between 18 and 27, from the Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Kragujevac, Serbia, and was conducted in 2020. The World Health Organization's Oral Health Questionnaire for Adults was utilized to evaluate the respondents' self-perceived oral health and oral hygiene practices.

Association of Preoperative Copeptin Levels with Risk of All-Cause Mortality in a Prospective Cohort of Adult Cardiac Surgery Patients.

We aimed to investigate the association of preoperative copeptin, a new cardiovascular biomarker, with short- and long-term mortality in a cohort of adult patients undergoing cardiac surgery, including its potential as a prognostic marker for clinical outcome. Preoperative blood samples of the Bern Perioperative Biobank, a prospective cohort of adults undergoing cardiac surgery during 2019, were analyzed. The primary and secondary outcome measures were 30-day and 1-year all-cause mortality.

Unlocking Selective Anticancer Mechanisms: Dinuclear Manganese Superoxide Dismutase Mimetics Combined with Pt(II) Complexes.

We conducted an in-depth exploration of the in vitro activities of the dinuclear MnLAc and MnL complexes (where HL=2-{[di(2-pyridyl)methylamino]-methyl}phenol), possessing dual superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activity. We investigated these complexes both individually and in conjunction with various Pt(II)-complexes, either as mixtures or as the Mn-Pt adducts. Our findings revealed a notable up to 50 % enhancement in the viability of healthy human breast cells, contrasted with a viability decrease as low as 50 % in breast cancer cells upon combined treatments with Mn SOD mimics and Pt(II) complexes.

Factors affecting adherence to recommendations on pre-operative cardiac testing: A cohort study.

Background: Cardiac risk evaluation prior to noncardiac surgery is fundamental to tailor peri-operative management to patient's estimated risk. Data on the degree of adherence to guidelines in patients at cardiovascular risk in Europe and factors influencing adherence are underexplored.

Objectives: The aim of this analysis was to describe the degree of adherence to [2014 European Society of Cardiology (ESC)/European Society of Anaesthesiology (ESA) guidelines] recommendations on rest echocardiography [transthoracic echocardiography (TTE)] and to stress imaging prior to noncardiac surgery in a large European sample and to assess factors potentially affecting adherence.

Macrophage activation and inflammatory priming by anti-MAA antibodies in rheumatoid arthritis.

We studied the effects of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) autoantibodies that target malondialdehyde-acetaldehyde protein adducts (anti-MAA) on inflammation and macrophage functions. We detected a profound reprogramming of gene expressions and the production of chemokines, such as CCL22 and CCL24, in anti-MAA exposed macrophages. Moreover, anti-MAA pretreatment promoted a more inflammatory cytokine profile upon TLR activation.

Association of Indoleamine 2,3-Dioxygenase (IDO) Activity with Outcome after Cardiac Surgery in Adult Patients.

Indoleamine 2,3-deoxygenase (IDO) plays an important role in the catabolism of the amino acid tryptophan. Tryptophan and its metabolites are key immune modulators. Increased IDO activity has been observed in various diseases and is associated with worse clinical outcomes.

Enhancing patient safety: detection of in-hospital hazards and effect of training on detection (by training in a low-fidelity simulation Room of Improvement based on hospital-specific CIRS cases).

Importance: Adequate situational awareness in patient care increases patient safety and quality of care. To improve situational awareness, an innovative, low-fidelity simulation method referred to as Room of Improvement, has proven effective in various clinical settings.

Objective: To investigate the impact after 3 months of Room of Improvement training on the ability to detect patient safety hazards during an intensive care unit shift handover, based on critical incident reporting system (CIRS) cases reported in the same hospital.

Chemoselective Proteomics, Zinc Fingers, and a Zinc(II) Model for HS Mediated Persulfidation.

The gasotransmitter hydrogen sulfide (HS) is thought to be involved in the post-translational modification of cysteine residues to produce reactive persulfides. A persulfide-specific chemoselective proteomics approach with mammalian cells has identified a broad range of zinc finger (ZF) proteins as targets of persulfidation. Parallel studies with isolated ZFs show that persulfidation is mediated by Zn, O, and HS, with intermediates involving oxygen- and sulfur-based radicals detected by mass spectrometry and optical spectroscopies.

Association between self-reported functional capacity measures and postoperative myocardial injury in patients undergoing noncardiac surgeries.

Background: Self-reported functional capacity measures have an uncertain role in the pre-operative cardiovascular risk stratification.

Aim: This substudy aimed to evaluate whether self-reported metabolic equivalent (MET) could improve the prediction of postoperative myocardial injury (MI) over other well-established cardiovascular risk factors.

Methods: This is a post hoc analysis of an international multicenter prospective cohort study.