Venous Insufficiency: Endovascular and Surgical Treatment.

Purpose Of Review: Venous insufficiency (VI) is a is a common and debilitating disease that can present with a wide range of manifestations ranging from telangiectasias to venous ulceration. The chapter explores various endovascular and open-surgical modalities used for VI, their technique, patient selection, outcomes, complications, and comparison with other modalities.

Recent Findings: The use of non-thermal and non-tumescent ablation techniques are found to have a better quality of life scores; however, the primary closure rates are inferior to thermal ablation techniques.

Although invisible, fungi are recognized as the engines of a microbial powerhouse that drives soil ecosystem services.

Soil ecosystem services (SES) are the benefits that humans derive from soil. These services emerge from the complex interactions between biotic and abiotic processes within soil systems. They are vital for maintaining ecosystem resilience and ensuring long-term sustainability.

Fabrication and Characterization of a Flexible Polyurethane-Based Triboelectric Nanogenerator for a Harvesting Energy System.

Powering wearable and portable devices, triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) are a considerably promising technology. Low-cost production, ease of fabrication, optimal efficiency, and high output performance are always key concerns in developing energy harvesting technologies. Optimum efficiency and high output are always key concerns.

Effect of Alloying and Reinforcing Nanocomposites on the Mechanical, Tribological, and Wettability Properties of Pulse-Electrodeposited Ni Coatings.

Research into the introduction of alloying and reinforcing nanocomposites into nickel (Ni) coatings has been motivated by the need for tribologically superior coatings that will improve energy efficiency. Using pulse electrodeposition, this work investigates the effects of adding cobalt (Co) as the alloying nanoparticle and silicon carbide (SiC), zirconium oxide (ZrO), and aluminium oxide (AlO) as reinforcing nanocomposites to Ni coatings. The surface properties, mechanical strength, nanotribological behaviour, and wettability of these coatings were analysed.

Leucine accelerates atherosclerosis through dose-dependent MTOR activation in macrophages.

The role of diet in driving cardiovascular disease (CVD) is well-recognized, particularly in the case of lipids. Dietary protein on the other hand has been heralded as an overall metabolically beneficial nutrient with popularity in the fitness community and in weight-loss regimens. Pursuant to epidemiological studies raising a CVD risk signal for excessive protein intake, we initially conducted murine studies establishing an atherogenic role for dietary protein, the critical involvement of macrophage MTORC1 signaling, and downstream inhibition of protective macroautophagy/autophagy pathways.

Phytochemical baicalin potentially inhibits Bcl-2 and VEGF: an approach.

Background: The rising prevalence of cancer cells exhibits uncontrolled growth and invasive and aggressive properties, leading to metastasis, which poses a significant challenge for global health. Central to cancer development are proteins such as NF-kB, p53, VEGF, and BAX/Bcl-2, which play important roles in angiogenesis, cell apoptosis regulation, and tumor growth.

Methodology: This study evaluates the activity of six different natural as well as novel therapeutic strategies against cancer.

Latitudinal gradient of thermal safety margin in an Australian damselfly: implications for population vulnerability.

The thermal tolerance of species may be exceeded by the predicted temperature increases and thus contribute to species extinction. However, the impact of temperature increases is thought to vary between climate regions and across latitudes. Here, we aim to establish the vulnerability of an ectothermic insect to a warming climate by estimating the thermal safety margin in damselflies.

Diagnostic Accuracy of Computed Tomography (CT) Coronary Angiography Compared to Invasive Coronary Angiography for Detecting Coronary Artery Disease: A Systematic Review.

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, and the prevalence is continually rising. Invasive coronary angiography (ICA) has been considered the gold standard in CAD diagnosis as it offers precise information about the presence and severity of coronary artery blockages. However, computed tomography coronary angiography (CTCA) has emerged as a preferred noninvasive imaging technique from the viewpoint of patient risk because it provides high-resolution coronary images.

Evaluating Drug-Eluting Balloons Versus Stenting for Provisional Bifurcation Lesions: Short-Term Outcomes and Future Directions.

Background This prospective cohort study aimed to evaluate the short-term clinical outcomes of drug-eluting balloons (DEBs) versus stenting in provisional bifurcation lesions, focusing on procedural success, safety, and major adverse cardiac events (MACE). The study specifically assessed key adverse outcomes, including restenosis, target lesion revascularization (TLR), myocardial infarction (MI), stent thrombosis, and mortality. Bifurcation lesions present significant challenges in interventional cardiology due to their complex anatomy, which contributes to a higher risk of restenosis, side-branch occlusion, and thrombotic events.

Therapeutic potential of extract by experimental and computational approaches: phenolic content and bioactivities for antioxidant, antidiabetic, and anticholinergic properties.

Introduction: (LN), has traditional medicinal uses, and this study investigates its therapeutic potential by focusing on its phenolic content and bioactivities such as antioxidant, antidiabetic, and anticholinergic properties. Phenolic compounds play key roles in reducing oxidative stress and modulating enzymatic activities, relevant to metabolic and neurodegenerative disorders.

Methods: LN leaf extracts were prepared via ethanol maceration, followed by filtration and concentration.

A Novel Biallelic Variant in IHH Causing Acrocapitofemoral Dysplasia in a Pakistani Family.

Background: Acrocapitofemoral dysplasia (ACFD) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder, characterized by postnatal onset of disproportionate short stature with short limbs, brachydactyly, cone-shaped epiphysis, narrow thorax, and relatively large head. To date, only three homozygous missense mutations have been reported in the signaling amino terminal domain (201-308 amino acids) of the IHH gene in three ACFD families from Belgian, Dutch, and Turkish ethnicities.

Methods: In the present study, we have investigated two patients in a Pakistani family affected with ACFD.

Selective UV Sensing for Energy-Efficient UV-A Artificial Synapses Using a ZnO/ZnGaO Heterojunction Diode.

As neuromorphic computing systems, which allow for parallel data storage and processing with high area and energy efficiency, show great potential for future storage and in-memory computing technologies. In this article, a high-performance UV detector for artificial optical synapse applications is demonstrated that can selectively detect UV-A and UV-C, with a responsivity of 407 A W. The pyrophototronic effect increases photocurrent dramatically under UV-A irradiation due to heat accumulation in the ZnO layer and ZnGaO's low thermal conductivity.

The Next Pandemic? Streptococcal Toxic Shock Syndrome on the Rise.

The emergence of Streptococcal toxic shock-like syndrome (STSS) poses a global health challenge after the COVID-19 pandemic. As of June 2024, the number of STSS cases in Japan has risen to 977, surpassing the previous year's total. Streptococcus pyogenes (group A strep) can cause superficial infections as well as more severe conditions, including necrotizing fasciitis and STSS.

Gut microbiome community profiling of Bornean bats with different feeding guilds.

Bats are extraordinary mammals. They have evolved to consume various dietary sources, such as insects, fruits, nectar, blood, and meat. This diversity has generated considerable interest in the scientific community, resulting in efforts to leverage bats as model organisms to study the correlation between diet and gut microbiome community.

Development of clinical practice guidelines and primary care referral pathways for management of otorhinolaryngological conditions in Pakistan.

Background: Diseases of the ear, nose, and throat (ENT) account for a significant portion of a primary care physician's practice in Pakistan, a South Asian lower-middle income country. This increasing burden demands comprehensive clinical practice guidelines and primary care clinical referral algorithms to be devised so that general physicians can adequately provide standardized primary health care and prevent needless specialist ENT referrals.

Methods: We selected eight guidelines regarding epistaxis, neck masses, hearing loss, Meniere's disease, dysphonia, allergic rhinitis, acute otitis externa, and rhinosinusitis from the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Foundation as the source guidelines and employed the GRADE-ADOLOPMENT approach to contextualize guidelines by adopting, adapting, or excluding recommendations from these guidelines.

Aging, vascular dysfunction, and the blood-brain barrier: unveiling the pathophysiology of stroke in older adults.

The progressive decline of vascular integrity and blood-brain barrier (BBB) function is associated with aging, a major risk factor for stroke. This review describes the cellular and molecular changes in the brain microvasculature of the neurovascular unit (NVU) that contribute to the development of BBB dysfunction in aging, such as endothelial cell senescence, oxidative stress, and degradation of tight junction proteins. Stroke severity and recovery are exacerbated by BBB breakdown, leading to neuroinflammation, neurotoxicity, and cerebral oedema while identifying molecular mechanisms such as the NLRP3 inflammasome, matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), and non-coding RNAs (e.

Evolutionary fingerprints of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition.

Mesenchymal plasticity has been extensively described in advanced epithelial cancers; however, its functional role in malignant progression is controversial. The function of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and cell plasticity in tumour heterogeneity and clonal evolution is poorly understood. Here we clarify the contribution of EMT to malignant progression in pancreatic cancer.

Neighboring and polarization effects on line shape of the modulation transfer spectroscopy in lower ground hyperfine state of Rb atoms.

We have investigated the detailed line shapes of modulation transfer spectroscopy (MTS) for the [Formula: see text], and 3 transitions of Rb due to neighboring hyperfine transitions. This analysis has been conducted under four different polarization configurations: linear parallel, linear perpendicular, circular parallel, and circular perpendicular configurations. To the best of our knowledge the effects of neighboring transitions have been applied to MTS for the first time.

De-ashed-biochar slow-release N fertilizer increased NUE in alkaline calcareous soils under wheat and maize crops.

Recently biochar has widely been reported as carrier of SRFs. However, the performance of SRFs synthesized from pristine biochar is still low and could not achieve the significant benefits compared to conventional N fertilizers. To overcome this limitation and research gap, BSRFs were synthesized using modified / de-ashed biochar as N-carrier.

Presentation, treatment and long-term outcomes of hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with and without HIV: a comparative observational cohort study.

Background: This study explores the epidemiology, treatment and outcomes of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in a sub-Saharan cohort, comparing patients with and without human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).

Methods: A retrospective cohort study of patients treated for HCC from 1 February 2011 to 29 February 2024 at Groote Schuur Hospital, South Africa was performed.

Results: Of the 501 HCC patients, 75 (15.

PEPSeek-mediated identification of novel epitopes from viral and bacterial pathogens and the impact on host cell immunopeptidomes.

Here, we develop PEPSeek, a web-server based software to allow higher performance in the identification of pathogen-derived epitope candidates detected via mass spectrometry in MHC class I immunopeptidomes. We apply it to human and mouse cell lines infected with either SARS-CoV-2, Listeria monocytogenes or Chlamydia trachomatis, thereby identifying a large number of novel antigens and epitopes that we prove to be recognized by CD8 T cells. In infected cells, we identified antigenic peptide features that suggested how processing and presentation of pathogenic antigens differ between pathogens.

Ureases in nature: Multifaceted roles and implications for plant and human health - A review.

Urease, a multifunctional enzyme that catalyzes the hydrolysis of urea into ammonia, plays a pivotal role in nitrogen metabolism across diverse organisms. While essential for survival, its unregulated activity is implicated in numerous pathologies, including peptic ulcers, nephropathy, and gastric cancer, as well as agricultural challenges such as soil ammonium depletion and reduced nitrogen-use efficiency. Beyond its canonical enzymatic function, urease engages in protein-protein interactions with bioactive counterparts like jaburetox, canatoxin, and soyuretox plant-derived proteins with insecticidal, antifungal, and membranolytic properties.

Design of a novel tri-axis ZnO nanowires based piezoelectric accelerometer.

Micro-Electromechanical Systems (MEMS) are pivotal in modern technology, serving as components like accelerometers, gyroscopes, and pressure sensors in various applications. MEMS accelerometers are key components used for measuring motion and vibrations in a wide range of systems. This paper presents the proposed design of a ZnO nanowires-based piezoelectric accelerometer.