Differentiating Liver Metastases from Primary Liver Cancer: A Retrospective Study of Imaging and Pathological Features in Patients with Histopathological Confirmation.

This study aimed to identify and analyze imaging and pathological features that differentiate liver metastases from primary liver cancer in patients with histopathological confirmation, and to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of imaging modalities. This retrospective study included 137 patients who underwent liver biopsy or resection between 2016 and 2024, comprising 126 patients with liver metastases and 11 patients with primary liver cancer (hepatocellular carcinoma). Imaging features on contrast-enhanced MRI were evaluated, including lesion number, size, margins, enhancement patterns, presence of capsule, T1/T2 signal characteristics, diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) signal, and portal vein thrombosis.

From Fossil to Bio-Based AESO-TiO Microcomposite for Engineering Applications.

Environmental issues and the reduction of fossil fuel resources will lead to the partial or total substitution of petroleum-based materials with natural, raw, renewable ones. One expanding domain is the obtaining of engineering materials from vegetable oils for sustainable, eco-friendly polymers for different applications. Herein, the authors propose a simplified and green synthesis pathway for a thermally curable, acrylated and epoxidized soybean oil matrix formulation containing only epoxidized soybean oil, acrylic acid, a reactive diluent (5%) and just 0.

Exploring miRNA Biomarkers in Major Depressive Disorder: A Molecular Medicine Perspective.

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a complex mental health condition with a multifaceted and incompletely elucidated pathophysiology. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have emerged as potential biomarkers due to their role in gene regulation and the observed dysregulation in MDD. The aim of this study is to detect the presence of specific molecular diagnostic biomarkers in major depressive disorder.

Multimorbidity-associated emergency hospital admissions: a "screen and link" strategy to improve outcomes for high-risk patients in sub-Saharan Africa: a prospective multicentre cohort study protocol.

Background: The prevalence of multimorbidity (the presence of two or more chronic health conditions) is rapidly increasing in sub-Saharan Africa. Hospital care pathways that focus on single presenting complaints do not address this pressing problem. This has the potential to precipitate frequent hospital readmissions, increase health system and out-of-pocket expenses, and may lead to premature disability and death.

Current Trends in Diagnosis and Treatment Approach of Diabetic Retinopathy during Pregnancy: A Narrative Review.

Diabetes mellitus during pregnancy and gestational diabetes are major concerns worldwide. These conditions may lead to the development of severe diabetic retinopathy during pregnancy or worsen pre-existing cases. Gestational diabetes also increases the risk of diabetes for both the mother and the fetus in the future.

Surface Degradation of DGEBA Epoxy Resins Cured with Structurally Different Amine Hardeners: Effects of UV Radiation.

In this study, the effects of three diamine curing agents (aromatic, cycloaliphatic, aliphatic) on the photochemical behavior of bisphenol A diglycidyl ether networks were comparatively examined. In order to monitor structural changes and study the curing agents' action mode, the cured epoxy resins were characterized before and after photoirradiation by means of Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, contact angle, differential scanning calorimetry, scanning electron microscopy, and energy-dispersive X-ray analysis, mass loss, and color modification measurements. Water absorption tests were also conducted.

Cost of digital technologies and family-observed DOT for a shorter MDR-TB regimen: a modelling study in Ethiopia, India and Uganda.

Background: In 2017, the WHO recommended the use of digital technologies, such as medication monitors and video observed treatment (VOT), for directly observed treatment (DOT) of drug-susceptible TB. The WHO's 2020 guidelines extended these recommendations to multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB), based on low evidence. The impact of COVID on health systems and patients underscored the need to use digital technologies in the management of MDR-TB.

Cost and quality of operational larviciding using drones and smartphone technology.

Background: Larval Source Management (LSM) is an important tool for malaria vector control and is recommended by WHO as a supplementary vector control measure. LSM has contributed in many successful attempts to eliminate the disease across the Globe. However, this approach is typically labour-intensive, largely due to the difficulties in locating and mapping potential malarial mosquito breeding sites.

Cost of treatment support for multidrug-resistant tuberculosis using patient-centred approaches in Ethiopia: a model-based method.

Background: Patient and health system costs for treating multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) remain high even after treatment duration was shortened. Many patients do not finish treatment, contributing to increased transmission and antimicrobial resistance. A restructure of health services, that is more patient-centred has the potential to reduce costs and increase trust and patient satisfaction.

Stakeholder perspectives around post-TB wellbeing and care in Kenya and Malawi.

Background: There is growing awareness of the burden of post-TB morbidity, and its impact on the lives and livelihoods of TB affected households. However little work has been done to determine how post-TB care might be delivered in a feasible and sustainable way, within existing National TB Programmes (NTPs) and health systems, in low-resource, high TB-burden settings. In this programme of stakeholder engagement around post-TB care, we identified actors with influence and interest in TB care in Kenya and Malawi, including TB-survivors, healthcare providers, policy-makers, researchers and funders, and explored their perspectives on post-TB morbidity and care.

The economics of healthcare access: a scoping review on the economic impact of healthcare access for vulnerable urban populations in low- and middle-income countries.

Background: The growing urban population imposes additional challenges for health systems in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). We explored the economic burden and inequities in healthcare utilisation across slum, non-slum and levels of wealth among urban residents in LMICs.

Methods: This scoping review presents a narrative synthesis and descriptive analysis of studies conducted in urban areas of LMICs.

Economic evaluation of shortened, bedaquiline-containing treatment regimens for rifampicin-resistant tuberculosis (STREAM stage 2): a within-trial analysis of a randomised controlled trial.

Background: The STREAM stage 2 trial assessed two bedaquiline-containing regimens for rifampicin-resistant tuberculosis: a 9-month all-oral regimen and a 6-month regimen containing an injectable drug for the first 2 months. We did a within-trial economic evaluation of these regimens.

Methods: STREAM stage 2 was an international, phase 3, non-inferiority randomised trial in which participants with rifampicin-resistant tuberculosis were randomly assigned (1:2:2:2) to the 2011 WHO regimen (terminated early), a 9-month injectable-containing regimen (control regimen), a 9-month all-oral regimen with bedaquiline (oral regimen), or a 6-month regimen with bedaquiline and an injectable for the first 2 months (6-month regimen).

Effect of Hardener Type on the Photochemical and Antifungal Performance of Epoxy and Oligophosphonate S-IPNs.

Due to their highly reactive character and multiple crosslinking capacity, epoxy resins are one of the worldwide market-dominating classes of thermosetting polymers and are present in a wide range of technical applications, including structural adhesives, coatings and polymer matrices for composite materials. Despite their excellent features, epoxy resins are known to be highly flammable and possess low thermal stability and a brittle character and crack easily under impact forces. An efficient approach towards eliminating such drawbacks resides in obtaining epoxy-based semi-interpenetrating polymer networks, which possess excellent control over the morphology.

Conditional trust: Community perceptions of drone use in malaria control in Zanzibar.

Background: The potential of drones to support public health interventions, such as malaria vector control, is beginning to be realised. Although permissions from civil aviation authorities are often needed for drone operations, the communities over which they fly tend to be ignored: How do affected communities perceive drones? Is drone deployment accepted by communities? How should communities be engaged?

Methods: An initiative in Zanzibar, United Republic of Tanzania is using drones to map malarial mosqutio breeding sites for targeting larval source management interventions. A community engagement framework was developed, based on participatory research, across three communities where drones will be deployed, to map local perceptions of drone use.

Photochemical Stability of a Cotton Fabric Surface Dyed with a Reactive Triphenodioxazine Dye.

The paper describes the photochemical stability of a commercial triphenodioxazine dye (Reactive Blue_204) linked onto a cotton fabric. Preliminary studies have shown that as a result of irradiation, the dye and its photodegradation products can pass directly onto the skin under conditions that mimic human perspiration and cause side-effects. The cotton dyed fabric was photo irradiated at different time intervals.

Effect of Thermal Aging on the Physico-Chemical and Optical Properties of Poly(ester urethane) Elastomers Designed for Passive Damping (Pads) of the Railway.

The aim of this study consists of monitoring the effect of thermal aging on the physico-chemical and optical properties of poly(ester urethane) elastomers designed as damping materials for railways. The materials were obtained by polyaddition in two stages in melt, resulting in regular structures. The structural modifications during the thermal aging of the samples were monitored using FTIR, color changes, TGA in non-isothermal and isothermal conditions, DSC and physico-mechanical measurements.

Economic evaluation protocol of a short, all-oral bedaquiline-containing regimen for the treatment of rifampicin-resistant tuberculosis from the STREAM trial.

Introduction: A December 2019 WHO rapid communication recommended the use of 9-month all-oral regimens for treating multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB). Besides the clinical benefits, they are thought to be less costly than the injectable-containing regimens, for both the patient and the health system. STREAM is the first randomised controlled trial with an economical evaluation to compare all-oral and injectable-containing 9-11-month MDR-TB treatment regimens.

Economic evaluation of short treatment for multidrug-resistant tuberculosis, Ethiopia and South Africa: the STREAM trial.

Objective: To investigate cost changes for health systems and participants, resulting from switching to short treatment regimens for multidrug-resistant (MDR) tuberculosis.

Methods: We compared the costs to health systems and participants of long (20 to 22 months) and short (9 to 11 months) MDR tuberculosis regimens in Ethiopia and South Africa. Cost data were collected from participants in the STREAM phase-III randomized controlled trial and we estimated health-system costs using bottom-up and top-down approaches.

Epoxy Coatings Based on Modified Vegetable Oils for Wood Surface Protection against Fungal Degradation.

The study describes the curing and thermal behavior of a new castor oil maleic anhydride adduct/epoxy oils/5-Bromosalicylic acid coatings and their composites with wood. The epoxidized oils were flax and hemp. The kinetic parameters of the curing and thermal degradation processes were calculated.

Antimicrobial resistance development following surgical site infections.

Surgical site infections (SSIs) determine an increase in hospitalization time and antibiotic therapy costs. The aim of this study was to identify the germs involved in SSIs in patients from the Clinical Emergency County Hospital of Craiova (SCJUC) and to assess their resistance to antimicrobials, with comparisons between surgical wards and the intensive care unit (ICU). The biological samples were subjected to classical bacteriological diagnostics.

Histochemical and immunohistochemical evidence of tumor heterogeneity in colorectal cancer.

Introduction: Intratumoral heterogeneity implies the existence of differences between tumor cells, which can best be shown by histochemical and immunohistochemical techniques. The histological study is a mandatory step in any research aimed at characterizing tumor heterogeneity. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) also plays an important role in the differentiation of tumor types, assessing aggressiveness.

FTIR and color change of the modified wood as a result of artificial light irradiation.

The effect of UV-visible light irradiation on the changes in color and chemical composition of the surfaces of Abies alba L. (fir, a softwood), non-modified and chemically modified, was studied. Chemical modification of the wood was performed by reaction with succinic anhydride in xylene at different concentration values.