Advances in microRNAs as Emerging Biomarkers for Colorectal Cancer Early Detection and Diagnosis.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) remains the second most common cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide, necessitating advancements in early detection and innovative treatment strategies. MicroRNAs (miRNAs), small non-coding RNAs involved in gene regulation, have emerged as crucial players in the pathogenesis of CRC. This review synthesizes the latest findings on miRNA deregulated in precancerous lesions and in CRC.

The McMaster Cough Severity Questionnaire (MCSQ): a cough severity instrument for patients with refractory chronic cough.

Background: Cough severity represents an important endpoint to assess the impact of therapies for patients with refractory chronic cough (RCC).

Objective: To develop a new patient-reported outcome measure addressing cough severity in patients with RCC.

Methods: Phase 1 (item generation): A systematic survey, focus groups, and expert consultation generated 51 items.

Clinical and sociodemographic predictors of depressive symptoms in epilepsy patients in a single tertiary epilepsy center.

Purpose: The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to determine the frequency of depressive symptoms in patients with epilepsy (PWE) in a tertiary epilepsy center and to analyse possible predictors of depression in several domains, including clinical characteristics of epilepsy and sociodemographic factors.

Methods: PWE patients who visited our epilepsy clinic during the 6th month in 2020 and 2021 were enrolled in our study. To collect the data, structured scales were created for the clinical characteristics of the disease and for the sociodemographic data.

Insight into the Probiogenomic Potential of BGPAS1-3 and Application of a Potent Thermostable Bacteriocin.

This study aimed to investigate the probiogenomic features of artisanal bacteriocin-producing BGPAS1-3 and the use of the improved pMALc5HisEk expression vector for overexpressing class II bacteriocins and the application of purified bacteriocin 31 in a milk model as a preservative against . The BGPAS1-3 strain was isolated from traditional fresh soft cheese manufactured in households on a small scale in rural locations surrounding Pale Mountain City in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The whole-genome sequencing approach and bioinformatics analyses revealed that the strain BGPAS1-3 was non-pathogenic to humans.

Uncovering Norway: Descriptions of Four New Aphidiinae Species (Hymenoptera, Braconidae) with Identification Key and Notes on Phylogenetic Relationships of the Subgenus Chen.

With only 33 reported species, Norway ranks among the European countries with the lowest documented diversity of parasitoids from the subfamily Aphidiinae. The "MUST Malaise" project, carried out by Museum Stavanger in Norway, aimed to assess insect abundance and biodiversity and create a reference base for future studies. The preliminary results of our study revealed four species new to science, indicating that the current number of recorded species in Norway is significantly lower than the actual diversity.

Motivational Factors Influencing the Choice of Medical Studies and Future Career Plans among Montenegrin Students.

Introduction: There is a concerning trend of emigration among highly educated individuals in Montenegro. This includes medical professionals who seek better job opportunities abroad. The aim of the present study was to identify the primary motivational factors driving Montenegrin medical students to pursue a career in medicine, and whether these factors undergo changes over the course of their studies.

Data augmentation for generating synthetic electrogastrogram time series.

To address an emerging need for large number of diverse datasets for rigor evaluation of signal processing techniques, we developed and evaluated a new method for generating synthetic electrogastrogram time series. We used electrogastrography (EGG) data from an open database to set model parameters and statistical tests to evaluate synthesized data. Additionally, we illustrated method customization for generating artificial EGG time series alterations caused by the simulator sickness.

Efficacy and safety of oral factor Xa inhibitors versus vitamin-K antagonists in the early phase after acute ischemic stroke or TIA in the real-world setting: The PRODAST study.

Introduction: Factor Xa (FXa) inhibitors are superior to vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) in terms of avoiding hemorrhagic complications. However, no robust data are available to date as to whether this also applies to the early phase after stroke. In this prospective registry study, we aimed to investigate whether anticoagulation with FXa inhibitors in the early phase after acute ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA) is associated with a lower risk of major bleeding events compared with VKAs.

Estimation of the population size of gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men in Canada, 2020.

Background: Gay or bisexual (GB) and other men who have sex with men (MSM) are disproportionately affected by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) globally and domestically in Canada. Reliable and recent population size estimates are necessary to allocate resources to meet prevention needs and for modelling the HIV epidemic. However, previous direct estimates did not account for GB men who would not reveal their sexual identity to a government survey, nor MSM not identifying as GB.

Insight into the Postbiotic Potential of the Autochthonous Bacteriocin-Producing BGZLM1-5 in the Reduction in the Abundance of ATCC19111 in a Milk Model.

This study aimed to explore the probiogenomic characteristics of artisanal bacteriocin-producing BGZLM1-5 and its potential application in reducing in a milk model. The BGZLM1-5 strain was isolated from raw cow's milk from households in the Zlatar Mountain region. The whole genome sequencing approach and bioinformatics analyses reveal that the strain BGZLM1-5 is non-pathogenic to humans.

Sitagliptin Induces Tolerogenic Human Dendritic Cells.

Sitagliptin, an anti-diabetic drug, is a dipeptidyl peptidase (DPP)-4/CD26 inhibitor with additional anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties. In this study, we investigated for the first time the effect of sitagliptin on the differentiation and functions of human dendritic cells generated from monocytes (MoDCs) for 4 days using the standard GM-CSF/IL-4 procedure. LPS/IFN-γ treatment for an additional 24 h was used for maturation induction of MoDCs.

Antioxidant effect of lactic acid bacteria in human bronchial epithelial cells exposed to cigarette smoke.

Aims: Chronic lung diseases are a major and increasing global health problem, commonly caused by cigarette smoke. We aimed to explore the antioxidant effects of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) against cigarette smoke in bronchial epithelial cells.

Methods And Results: The antioxidant effects of 21 heat-killed (HK) LAB strains were tested in cigarette smoke-stimulated BEAS-2B cells and 3-D bronchospheres organoids.

Identifying the Key Elements of Psychologically Safe Workplaces in Healthcare Settings.

Background: Psychological safety is a key concern in the workplace as organisations continue to see increases in psychological injuries that have significant ramifications on individuals and workplaces. The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated this issue in healthcare workforces facing extraordinary pressures. This preliminary study aims to enhance our understanding of the factors that healthcare workers value in relation to psychological safety in their respective healthcare settings.

Effects of long-term individual housing of middle-aged female on spatial learning and memory in the Barnes maze task.

Introduction: Prolonged social isolation is a form of passive chronic stress that has consequences on human and animal behavior. The present study was undertaken to elucidate whether the long-term isolation would precipitate age-related changes in anxiety and spatial learning and memory in degus.

Methods: We investigated the effects of long-term social isolation on anxiety levels in the light-dark test, and spatial orientation abilities in the Barnes maze.

Retinal microvascular complexity as a putative biomarker of biological age: a pilot study.

Physiological changes associated with aging increase the risk for the development of age-related diseases. This increase is non-specific to the type of age-related disease, although each disease develops through a unique pathophysiologic mechanism. People who age at a faster rate develop age-related diseases earlier in their life.

The role of miRNA in colorectal cancer diagnosis: A pilot study.

Despite recent advances in diagnosis and treatment, colorectal cancer (CRC) remains the third most common cancer worldwide, and has both a poor prognosis and a high recurrence rate, thus indicating the need for new, sensitive and specific biomarkers. MicroRNAs (miRNAs/miRs) are important regulators of gene expression, which are involved in numerous biological processes implicated in tumorigenesis. The objective of the present study was to investigate the expression of miRNAs in plasma and tissue samples from patients with CRC, and to examine their potential as CRC biomarkers.

Timing Is Important-Management of Metabolic Syndrome According to the Circadian Rhythm.

Physiological processes occur in accordance with a rhythm regulated by the endogenous biological clock. This clock is programmed at the molecular level and synchronized with the daily light-dark cycle, as well as activities such as feeding, exercise, and social interactions. It consists of the core clock genes, Circadian Locomotor Output Cycles Protein Kaput (CLOCK) and Brain and Muscle Arnt-Like protein 1 (BMAL1), and their products, the period (PER) and cryptochrome (CRY) proteins, as well as an interlocked feedback loop which includes reverse-strand avian erythroblastic leukemia (ERBA) oncogene receptors (REV-ERBs) and retinoic acid-related orphan receptors (RORs).

Rats conserve passive avoidance retention level throughout the light phase of diurnal cycle.

Emotions and memory formation are sensible to circadian rhythm. Here we study whether the time of day during the light phase of the diurnal cycle affects emotional memory in male Wistar rats using the passive avoidance (PA) test. Experiments were conducted at the beginning of Zeitgeber time (ZT) (ZT0.

Incomplete penetrance and variable expressivity in monogenic diabetes; a challenge but also an opportunity.

Monogenic Forms of Diabetes (MFD) account for about 3% of all diabetes, and their accurate diagnosis often results in life-changing therapeutic reassignment for the patients. Like other Mendelian diseases, reduced penetrance and variable expressivity are often seen in several different types of MFD, where symptoms develop only in a portion of the persons who carry the pathogenic variant or vary widely in symptom severity and age of onset. This complicates diagnosis and disease management in MFD.

Antibiotic Utilization during COVID-19: Are We Over-Prescribing?

The aims of this study were to analyze the utilization of antibiotics before (2018, 2019) and during the COVID-19 pandemic (2020) and the practice of prescribing antibiotics in outpatient settings for COVID-19 patients during the 2020-2022 period. The Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical Classification/Defined Daily Dose methodology was used for the analysis of outpatient antibiotic utilization in the Republic of Srpska. The data was expressed in DDD/1000 inhabitants/day.

A Novel Somatic Mutation Implicates ATP6V0D1 in Proinsulin Processing.

Context: Prohormone convertase 1/3 (PC1/3), encoded by protein convertase subtilisin kexin type 1 (PCSK1), converts inactive prohormones into biologically active peptides. Somatic mutations of insulinomas are associated with genetic defects interfering with control of insulin secretion from pancreatic beta cells. However, somatic mutations in proinsulinomas have not been described.

Techno-Functional Performance of Emmer, Spelt and Khorasan in Spontaneously Fermented Sourdough Bread.

The aim of this study was to test the suitability of three different ancient wheat varieties (emmer, spelt and khorasan) to produce spontaneously fermented sourdough bread and to evaluate the impact on the dough rheological properties, ultrastructure and baking quality. Modern wheat sourdough bread and bakery yeast fermented bread were used as controls. Sourdoughs produced from modern and ancient wheats exerted different effects on dough viscoelastic properties, bread specific volume, texture, firming rate, colour and sensory properties, while there was no influence on bread water activity.