Assessment of Women's Discretionary Salt Intake and Household Salt Utilization in Preparation for a Salt Fortification Trial in Oromia Region, Ethiopia.

There is a high incidence of neural tube defects (NTDs) in Ethiopia and folate insufficiency, a primary risk factor for NTDs, is common among Ethiopian women of reproductive age (WRA). Folic acid fortification of salt has been proposed as a strategy to control these problems. In preparation for an intervention trial to assess the nutritional effects of folic acid-fortified salt, we measured discretionary salt intakes among nonpregnant WRA using observed weighed food records, and we assessed household salt disappearance rates.

Extracranial Carotid Artery Aneurysms: A Comprehensive Analysis of its Epidemiology, Pathogenesis, Diagnosis, and Management: A Scoping Review.

Background: Extracranial carotid artery aneurysms (ECAAs) are extraordinarily rare, representing approximately 0.4%-4% of all extracranial artery aneurysms. As medical technology has advanced, new approaches for ECAAs treatment can be performed.

Exploring the Formulation and Efficacy of Phosphazene-Based Flame Retardants for Conventional Supercapacitor Electrolytes.

The formulation of safe electrolytes for supercapacitors based on phosphazene used as a flame-retardant (FR) is carried out. 3 molecules are used: hexafluorocyclotriphosphazene (FR1), (ethoxy)pentafluorocyclotriphosphazene (FR2) and pentafluoro(phenoxy)cyclotriphosphazene (FR3). A comparative study on the efficacy from a safety point of view is performed to determine the minimum percentages of each to be used in a conventional acetonitrile (ACN)/1.

Elevation of NT-proBNP Levels in Pediatric and Young Adult Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant Patients with Endotheliopathy.

Background/objectives: Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) in pediatric and young adult (YA) patients can lead to endotheliopathy, such as thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA), sinusoidal obstruction syndrome (SOS), and diffuse alveolar hemorrhage (DAH). Natriuretic peptides have been studied as markers of endotheliopathy and critical illness. We hypothesized that an elevation in NT-proBNP was associated with the development of endotheliopathy (DAH, SOS, or TMA) in the first 100 days following HSCT in pediatric and YA patients.

Application of Natural Zeolite as Catalyst in the Degradation of the Azo Dye DO39 by Plasma.

The discharge of industrial wastewater with dyes into natural tributaries has serious environmental consequences on aquatic ecosystems and the health of living beings. Atmospheric plasmas have proven to be very useful for the degradation of organic contaminants in water; in this context, corona type discharge, owing to its physical characteristics, is capable of degrading and even mineralizing dyes dissolved in water. In this work, zeolite was used as a catalyst in the degradation of the textile azo dye Direct Orange 39 (DO39) through interaction with plasma generated at atmospheric pressure.

Animal Models for Mechanical Circulatory Support: A Research Review.

Heart failure is a clinical syndrome that has become a leading public health problem worldwide. Globally, nearly 64 million individuals are currently affected by heart failure, causing considerable medical, financial, and social challenges. One therapeutic option for patients with advanced heart failure is mechanical circulatory support (MCS) which is widely used for short-term or long-term management.

Hymecromone Promotes Longevity and Insulin Sensitivity in Mice.

Given that the extracellular matrix polymer hyaluronan (HA) has been implicated in longevity, we asked whether 4-methylumbelliferone (4-MU), an inhibitor of HA synthesis, impacts lifespan in mice. We designed a prospective study of long-term administration of 4-MU with conventional C57BL/6J mice. We find that 4-MU extends median survival from 122 weeks (control) to 154 weeks (4-MU), an increase of 32 weeks ( < 0.

Selective breeding enhances coral heat tolerance to marine heatwaves.

Marine heatwaves are becoming more frequent, widespread and severe, causing mass coral bleaching and mortality. Natural adaptation may be insufficient to keep pace with climate warming, leading to calls for selective breeding interventions to enhance the ability of corals to survive such heatwaves, i.e.

Elaboration of Functionalized Iron Oxide Nanoparticles by Microwave-Assisted Co-Precipitation: A New One-Step Method in Water.

Iron oxide nanoparticles are extensively utilized in various fields, particularly in biomedical applications. For such uses, nanoparticles must meet specific criteria, including precise size, morphology, physico-chemical properties, stability, and biocompatibility. Microwave-assisted co-precipitation offers an efficient method for producing water-soluble nanoparticles.

New clinical approach in facial mild-moderate acne: Re-stabilization of skin microbiota balance with a topical biotechnological phytocomplex.

Objectives: Dysbiosis of the skin microbiota has been identified as a key factor in the development of acne. This study was aimed to evaluate the effect of a facial cream gel containing a biotechnological phytocomplex, niacinamide and succinic acid on the bacterial diversity of subjects with mild-moderate acne and its clinical benefits due to microbiota changes.

Methods: Open-label, clinical study in 44 subjects with mild-moderate acne treated with a facial cream gel for 8 weeks.

An Exosome-Laden Hydrogel Wound Dressing That Can Be Point-of-Need Manufactured in Austere and Operational Environments.

Skin wounds often form scar tissue during healing. Early intervention with tissue-engineered materials and cell therapies may promote scar-free healing. Exosomes and extracellular vesicles (EV) secreted by mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC) are believed to have high regenerative capacity.

Energetic silicones: synthesis and characterization of pentaoxadiazole-PDMS copolymers.

Standing at the forefront of energetics research is the exploration of energetic binders. To avoid the traditionally used sensitive explosophores, we present the first reported energetic silicone polymers synthesized from a penta-oxadiazole monomer. These polymers exhibit properties that lie between, or exceed, the thermal properties of inert and commonly used energetic binders.

Effect of COVID-19 on Injury Incidence and Severity in Professional Female Football Players: A Cohort Prospective Study.

Background: Earlier statements suggested a negative impact of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection on sports performance and injury risk. With the COVID-19 pandemic under control and the dominance of a less-severe strain of the virus, there is a need to confirm whether these adverse effects still apply to the current situation.

Hypothesis: Infected players would have a higher noncontact muscle injury incidence compared with noninfected counterparts.

Atmospheric Plasma Treatment to Improve PHB Coatings on 316L Stainless Steel.

In the present study, biopolymeric coatings of polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) were deposited on 316L stainless steel substrates. The PHB coatings were developed using the spin coating method. To improve the adhesion of the PHB coating on the substrate, this method uses an atmospheric plasma treatment.

A new topical biotechnological phytocomplex for truncal mild-moderate acne restores skin microbiota balance.

Background: The disruption of the microbial community or dysbiosis alters the functional composition, metabolic activity, and local distribution of the microbiota leading the development of acne. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of a lotion containing a biotechnological phytocomplex, niacinamide, and succinic acid in the bacterial diversity of subjects with truncal mild-moderate acne and its clinical benefits due to microbiota changes.

Materials And Methods: Open, clinical study in 43 subjects with truncal mild-moderate acne treated with a lotion for 8 weeks.

Serum hepcidin recalibrated values in Mexican schoolchildren by demographic characteristics, nutritional and infection/inflammation status.

Unlabelled: Hepcidin production is regulated by iron concentration, erythropoietic activity, and inflammation. There is no reference method for determining its levels, but results obtained through various methods strongly correlate and can be compared using recalibration equations.

Objective: To describe recalibrated serum hepcidin values at different percentiles in schoolchildren, considering age, sex, inflammatory processes, H.

Expanding Fortification with Folic Acid: Thinking Outside the Cereal-Grain Box.

(1) Background: Fortifying maize and wheat flours with folic acid has effectively reduced neural tube defect-affected births. However, maize and wheat flours may not be widely consumed in all countries; further reduction in neural tube defect-affected births could benefit from the identification of alternative food vehicles. We aimed to use dietary intake or apparent consumption data to determine alternative food vehicles for large-scale fortification with folic acid in low-income and lower-middle-income countries (LILMICs) and identify current research related to examining the technological feasibility of fortifying alternative foods with folic acid.