Foreword to a Scoping Review of Interventions on Fruit and Vegetable Intake in Low-, Middle-, and High-Income Countries: A Global Perspective.

A healthy diet low in fat, sugars, and sodium and high in fruit and vegetables (F&V) is recommended to ensure overall health and reduce risk of noncommunicable diseases. However, despite the evidence of strong health benefits, dietary intake of both fruit and vegetables is inadequate in most populations worldwide. To better understand the state of the evidence of what has worked to improve F&V intake, we conducted a scoping review to summarize available evidence of interventions focusing on the impact on F&V intake, including those aiming to improve F&V intake specifically and those targeting diet, health, lifestyle or environment more broadly.

sp. nov., an Amoeba That Dissolves Entire Algal Cells at a Remarkable Speed.

The vampyrellid amoebae (Order Vampyrellida, Rhizaria) comprise predatory microeukaryotes that inhabit freshwater, marine, and terrestrial habitats. They are known to consume a wide array of prey, which includes microalgae, fungi, and even microscopic animals such as nematodes. Members of the popular genus phagocytize the cell contents of filamentous green algae after localized perforation of the cell wall.

Role of FDG PET/CT in bacteremia and fever of unknown origin: a pictorial overview of finding the culprit.

F fluorodeoxyglucose ([F]FDG) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) has established itself as a critical diagnostic tool in the evaluation of patients with bacteremia and fever of unknown origin (FUO), particularly following futile conventional investigations. These conditions are often challenging due to diverse underlying etiologies, including infections, inflammatory conditions and malignancies. PET/CT has the advantage of being a whole-body imaging technique with high sensitivity for detecting areas of increased metabolism often associated with infection or inflammation.

Three-Compartment Phenotype Concept of Total Knee Arthroplasty Alignment: Mismatch Between Distal Femoral, Posterior Femoral, and Tibial Joint Lines.

Background: The purpose of the study was to assess whether patients who have different coronal alignment variations (functional knee phenotypes (FKP)) have distinctly different rotational alignment variations to justify an extension of the FKP concept to include rotational alignment parameters. The goals of the study were to: 1) determine the frequency of bony congruence between the anterior, distal, and posterior femoral and proximal tibial joint lines using the extended FKP concept; and 2) connect these findings to clinical practice by simulating the impact of different alignment concepts on the most common FKP.

Methods: The posterior condylar angle (PCA) and anterior trochlear angle (ATA) were measured in 265 knees without osteoarthritis (OA).

Interventions on Fruit and Vegetable Intake in Low-, Middle-, and High-Income Countries: A Scoping Review of Evidence and Knowledge Gaps.

BackgroundAdequate fruit and vegetable (F&V) intake is important for health, yet populations globally are failing to meet recommendations.ObjectiveA scoping review to summarize available evidence of evaluations of interventions to increase F&V intake globally, focusing on target populations, intervention strategies, research methods, and summarizing their evaluated impacts.MethodsWe searched PubMed and Web of Science in February 2023 for intervention studies in which dietary intake of fruit and/or vegetables were documented.

Textile fibres in the respiratory tract part 1: A background study.

Fibre traces recovered from the respiratory tract have the potential to be informative in cases of suspected smothering. In order to interpret such findings, it is important to understand the background population of fibres in respiratory tract such that the probabilities of adventitious recovery of such fibres can be assigned. This study builds upon previous studies by first testing various recovery methods on both living participants and cadavers.

The EU project Real4Reg: unlocking real-world data with AI.

Background: The use of real-world data is established in post-authorization regulatory processes such as pharmacovigilance of drugs and medical devices, but is still frequently challenged in the pre-authorization phase of medicinal products. In addition, the use of real-world data, even in post-authorization steps, is constrained by the availability and heterogeneity of real-world data and by challenges in analysing data from different settings and sources. Moreover, there are emerging opportunities in the use of artificial intelligence in healthcare research, but also a lack of knowledge on its appropriate application to heterogeneous real-world data sources to increase evidentiary value in the regulatory decision-making and health technology assessment context.

ACL tunnel placement using 3D printed surgical guides - a porcine feasibility study.

Background: Anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) failures are associated with misplacement of the bone tunnels in up to 88%. The aim of this study is to evaluate the feasibility and accuracy of ACL tunnel placement performed with 3D printed guides.

Methods: 3D models of the femur and tibia from ten porcine specimens were reconstructed using CT scans.

Evaluating slaughterhouse findings for lung and tail lesions in fattening pigs from secondary data.

Using slaughterhouse findings to monitor animal health and welfare is not a new idea. The German Federal Veterinary Surgeon's Association even calls for the establishment of an animal health database that combines slaughterhouse findings with health and farm data from already existing monitoring programs to create a comprehensive monitoring and surveillance tool. In an attempt to combine secondary health data from slaughterhouse findings, antibiotic use monitoring as well as biosecurity and husbandry evaluations into an integrated dataset, data from 18,593 fattening pig farms across Germany participating in the private sector Quality scheme for food (from 2018 to 2020) were harmonized at the half-year level and combined.

Pandemic Preparedness: Analyzing National Plans for Respiratory Pathogen Pandemics in the Americas Region.

Background: To identify gaps and define priority actions to strengthen national pandemic preparedness and response plans, we assessed the concordance between national plans for respiratory pathogens against the World Health Organization (WHO) pandemic checklist and the States Parties Annual Report (SPAR) in the Americas.

Methods: In this retrospective, semiquantitative study, we reviewed the most recent respiratory pandemic plans for 35 Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) member states and assessed their concordance with (1) actionable guidelines in WHO pandemic checklist and (2) International Health Regulations (IHR) (2005) core capacities using the latest SPAR tool. We developed 25 tracking questions to identify gaps, strengths, and opportunities for improvement using a 5-point scale.

NTHi killing activity is reduced in COPD patients and is associated with a differential microbiome.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a chronic lung disease characterized by airway obstruction and inflammation. Non-typeable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHi) lung infections are common in COPD, promoting frequent exacerbations and accelerated lung function decline. The relationship with immune responses and NTHi are poorly understood.

Dietary intake and micronutrient adequacy among adults engaged in agriculture in rural Sri Lanka: findings from a cross-sectional baseline survey.

Objective: To characterise food group consumption, assess the contribution of food groups to energy and micronutrient intake, and estimate usual nutrient intake among adults in rural Sri Lanka.

Design: A baseline survey (December 2020-February 2021) was conducted as part of an agriculture-based, nutrition-sensitive resilience program evaluation. Dietary intake was assessed using telephone-based 24-h recalls ( 1283), with repeat recalls from 769 participants.

Software Discrepancies in Radionuclide-Derived Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction.

Gated equilibrium radionuclide angiography (ERNA), or multigated acquisition scanning, is a well-established technique to monitor left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) in patients treated with potentially cardiotoxic chemotherapy. To determine the results of a true change in LVEF, low inter- and intrareader variability is important. The aim of this study was to investigate inter- and intrareader variability in LVEF measurements using 2 different commercially available software packages with cardiac MR (CMR) as a reference standard.

Identification and development of TRPM4 antagonists to counteract neuronal excitotoxicity.

Neurodegeneration in central nervous system disorders is linked to dysregulated neuronal calcium. Direct inhibition of glutamate-induced neuronal calcium influx, particularly via N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors (NMDAR), has led to adverse effects and clinical trial failures. A more feasible approach is to modulate NMDAR activity or calcium signaling indirectly.

Diets, fruit and vegetables consumption, and nutritional status in Benin: A scoping review.

Unhealthy diets, including low fruit and vegetables (F&V) intake, contribute to morbidity and mortality related to non-communicable diseases. Designing culturally appropriate interventions to improve diets and F&V intake requires an in-depth understanding of individual-level dietary patterns, household consumption patterns, and nutritional status resulting from inadequate F&V intake. In this scoping review, we summarised the literature on diets, F&V intake, and nutritional status in Benin.

Diets, Fruit and Vegetable Intake and Nutritional Status Among Children, Adolescents and Adults in the Philippines: A Scoping Review.

Suboptimal diets contribute to the risk of malnutrition and non-communicable diseases across the life course. Globally, intakes of fruit and vegetables (F&V) fall below recommendations, including in the Philippines. To promote F&V intakes, understanding the extent of inadequate intakes across population groups and key drivers of dietary patterns is needed.

Diets, Fruit and Vegetable Intake and Nutritional Status in Tanzania: Scoping Review.

Globally, the intake of fruit and vegetables (F&V) is far below the recommended levels, contributing to various health challenges including micronutrient deficiencies and non-communicable diseases. In Tanzania, where the triple burden of malnutrition persists, there is a need to identify gaps in evidence, better understand diets and F&V intake and identify promising interventions for improved intake. We conducted a scoping review to summarize the evidence on dietary intake, F&V intake and nutritional status in Tanzania.

New York State Climate Impacts Assessment Chapter 05: Ecosystems.

The people of New York have long benefited from the state's diversity of ecosystems, which range from coastal shorelines and wetlands to extensive forests and mountaintop alpine habitat, and from lakes and rivers to greenspaces in heavily populated urban areas. These ecosystems provide key services such as food, water, forest products, flood prevention, carbon storage, climate moderation, recreational opportunities, and other cultural services. This chapter examines how changes in climatic conditions across the state are affecting different types of ecosystems and the services they provide, and considers likely future impacts of projected climate change.

Longitudinal clinical and proteomic diabetes signatures in women with a history of gestational diabetes.

We characterized the longitudinal serum protein signatures of women 6 and 10 years after having gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) to identify factors associated with the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D) and prediabetes in this at-risk post-GDM population, aiming to discover potential biomarkers for early diagnosis and prevention of T2D. Our study identified 75 T2D-associated serum proteins and 23 prediabetes-associated proteins, some of which were validated in an independent T2D cohort. Machine learning (ML) performed on the longitudinal proteomics highlighted protein signatures associated with progression to post-GDM diabetes.

Nursing Informatics: The Vital Nursing Link Between Technology And Patient Care.

Description Advances in technology offer additional health care tools to improve the health of patients and efficiencies for our clinicians in innovative ways. These technologies cover a huge variety of therapeutics, ranging from wearable devices, such as insulin pumps, to robotic-assisted surgeries. Nursing informatics is firmly embedded in the use of technology to improve nursing care and science.

Relationship between lactate and thiamine-responsive disorders in hospitalised infants and children in Lao PDR: secondary analysis of a prospective cohort study.

Background: Lactate is a by-product of thiamine-deficient cellular metabolism, and hyperlactataemia can indicate severe illness. However, little is known about the clinical significance of hyperlactataemia in thiamine deficiency disorders.

Aim: To describe the relationship between whole-blood lactate level and thiamine-responsive disorders (TRDs) in children with signs/symptoms of thiamine deficiency in a high-risk region.

Broad-range necrophytophagy in the flagellate Orciraptor agilis (Viridiraptoridae, Cercozoa) and the underappreciated role of scavenging among protists.

Protists show diverse lifestyles and fulfill important ecological roles as primary producers, predators, symbionts, and parasites. The degradation of dead microbial biomass, instead, is mainly attributed to bacteria and fungi, while necrophagy by protists remains poorly recognized. Here, we assessed the food range specificity and feeding behavior of the algivorous flagellate Orciraptor agilis (Viridiraptoridae, Cercozoa) with a large-scale feeding experiment.