Vitamin K-Dependent Proteins as Predictors of Valvular Calcifications and Mortality in Hemodialysis Patients.

: Vitamin K deficiency in chronic kidney disease (CKD) could potentially occur due to multiple factors, leading to an increased risk of vascular and valvular calcifications. Vitamin K status can be indirectly assessed by measuring the blood levels of vitamin K-dependent proteins (VKDPs), such as matrix GLA protein (MGP). This study aims to examine the relationship between the levels of inactive MGP (dp-uc MGP) and the presence of valvular calcifications, as well as its association with mortality in hemodialysis patients.

The Prognostic Value of Serum Creatinine Dynamics in Neonates-A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is common in neonates with increased mortality and longer hospitalization. Few studies have evaluated AKI outcomes in relation to serum creatinine dynamics in neonates from the first day of life. We performed an observational, retrospective, single-center study on newborns admitted to the "Louis Turcanu" Emergency County Hospital for Children between 2014 and 2022.

Climate refugia in the Great Barrier Reef may endure into the future.

Although global warming is leading to more frequent mass coral bleaching events worldwide, parts of the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) have consistently escaped severe coral bleaching. Modeling and satellite observations show that climate refugia are created by the upwelling of cooler water to the surface through the interactions of tides and currents with dense reef structures. Here, we use a high-resolution nested regional ocean model to investigate the future status of two relatively large refugia.

Arterio-Venous Fistula Calcifications-Risk Factors and Clinical Relevance.

(1) Background: Arterio-venous fistulas (AVFs) are considered the gold-standard vascular access (VA) in patients on maintenance hemodialysis (HD) therapy. AVF calcifications represent a less studied VA related complication, even though HD patients are at a higher risk for extraosseous calcifications. The aim of this study is to assess the prevalence and risk factors of AVF calcifications, as well as the 5-year impact on AVF functionality and on overall mortality.

Compact Plasma Ionization for Ion Mobility Spectrometry Using a 4.3 MHz Miniature Tesla Coil.

In this study, a low-cost 4.3 MHz plasma ionization source for ion mobility spectrometry (IMS), utilizing a miniaturized Tesla coil, is presented. This compact design, combined with a 3D printed cyclic olefin copolymer (COC) housing, delivers a stable and directed plasma suitable for ionization in IMS applications.

Assessing the Influence of Illumination on Ion Conductivity in Perovskite Solar Cells.

Whether illumination influences the ion conductivity in lead-halide perovskite solar cells containing iodide halides has been an ongoing debate. Experiments to elucidate the presence of a photoconductive effect require special devices or measurement techniques and neglect possible influences of the enhanced electronic charge concentrations. Here, we assess the electronic-ionic charge transport using drift-diffusion simulations and show that the well-known increase in capacitance at low frequencies under illumination is caused by electronic currents that are amplified due to the screening of the alternating electric field by the ions.

Bacterial Resistances and Sensibilities in a Tertiary Care Hospital in Romania-A Retrospective Analysis.

The increase in bacterial resistance is currently a global burden for the health care system. In order to evaluate the resistance rates of several bacteria from the most encountered cultures in clinical practice, we performed a retrospective analysis of all of the positive cultures from the year 2021 in a tertiary care hospital in Romania. Our analysis captured 3299 positive cultures.

The Relationship between Circulating Kidney Injury Molecule-1 and Cardiovascular Morbidity and Mortality in Hemodialysis Patients.

Background: The importance of identifying mortality biomarkers in chronic kidney disease (CKD), and especially in patients treated with hemodialysis (HD), has become evident. In addition to being a marker of tubulointerstitial injury, plasma kidney injury molecule-1 (KIM-1) has been mentioned in regard to HD patients as a risk marker for cardiovascular (CV) mortality and coronary artery calcification. The aim of this study was to assess the level of plasma KIM-1 as a marker of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and mortality in CKD5-HD patients (patients with CKD stage G5D treated with hemodialysis).

Near real-time quantification of microbial volatile organic compounds from mycoparasitic fungi: Potential for advanced monitoring and pest control.

Microbial volatile organic compounds (MVOCs) are thought to play a key role in the interactions between mycoparasitic fungi, such as the biocontrol agent Trichoderma atroviride (T. atroviride), and their environment. However, the analysis of MVOC emissions from fungal samples is challenging because of low analyte concentrations, typically in the ppb-range, and the complex chemical nature of biological samples.

F NMR Probes: Molecular Logic Material Implications for the Anion Discrimination and Chemodosimetric Approach for Selective Detection of HO.

Detection and discrimination of similar solvation energies of bioanalytes are vital in medical and practical applications. Currently, various advanced techniques are equipped to recognize these crucial bioanalytes. Each strategy has its own benefits and limitations.

Setting the Separation Factor α for Ketone Monomers and Dimers by the Use of Different Drift Gases.

This study investigates the influence of different drift gases on ion mobility in ion mobility spectrometry (IMS) using ketones as model substances within a custom-built drift tube spectrometer. Different binary mixtures of nitrogen, helium, and argon were used as drift gases to investigate the influence of mobility on the monomers and dimers of the different ketones. Experimental results reveal shifts in ion drift times and separation factors (α) with varying gas compositions, in accordance with Blanc's Law.

Spectral speckle displacement in defocused and tilted imaging systems.

Speckle patterns offer valuable insights into the surface characteristics or the characteristics of the light generating the speckle. One possible way to extract this information is via spectral speckle correlation (SSC). The cross-correlation between two speckle fields, generated at different wavelengths, can be used for example to determine the roughness of the illuminated surface.

Quantifying CO-release from a photo-CORM using F NMR: An investigation into light-induced CO delivery.

Carbon monoxide (CO) is an innate signaling molecule that can regulate immune responses and interact with crucial elements of the circadian clock. Moreover, pharmacologically, CO has been substantiated for its therapeutic advantages in animal models of diverse pathological conditions. Given that an excessive level of CO can be toxic, it is imperative to quantify the necessary amount for therapeutic use accurately.

Demonstrating the Applicability of Proton Transfer Reaction Mass Spectrometry to Quantify Volatiles Emitted by the Mycoparasitic Fungus in Real Time: Monitoring of -Based Biopesticides.

The present study aims to explore the potential application of proton transfer reaction time-of-flight mass spectrometry (PTR-ToF-MS) for real-time monitoring of microbial volatile organic compounds (MVOCs). This investigation can be broadly divided into two parts. First, a selection of 14 MVOCs was made based on previous research that characterized the MVOC emissions of , which is a filamentous fungus widely used as a biocontrol agent.

Novel Biomarkers in Evaluating Cardiac Function in Patients on Hemodialysis-A Pilot Prospective Observational Cohort Study.

Chronic kidney disease patients treated by hemodialysis present a high cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. There is an imperative need for novel biomarkers for identifying these patients and to offer possible therapeutically interventions. We performed a prospective observational cohort study on 77 patients in the period of October 2021-October 2023.

Point-of-Care Arterio-Venous Fistula Ultrasound in the Outpatient Hemodialysis Unit-A Survey on the Nurses' Perspective.

The preservation of complication-free arterio-venous fistulas (AVF) for long-term hemodialysis (HD) use is associated with better overall patient outcomes, which is why this is a current goal in any HD center. Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) for in-center AVF assessment has proven its benefits in the identification of vascular access (VA) complications and as an additional tool to avoid blind cannulation. The current study aims to assess the change in the HD nurses' perceptions regarding AVF POCUS use in the HD center.

Development and evaluation of an internet- and mobile-based intervention for individualized return to work planning after inpatient rehabilitation - Study protocol for a randomized-controlled-trial.

Background: Following discharge, it is crucial for patients to transfer intentions and action plans from inpatient rehabilitation into everyday life. This ensures their reintegration into social and working life and prevents economic costs due to sick leave or reduced earning capacity pension. However, most established aftercare programs do not specifically address occupational problems or challenges during occupational measures such as graded return to work.

Lysosome targeted visible light-induced photo-CORM for simultaneous CO-release and singlet oxygen generation.

We report a specific lysosome targeted light-responsive CO-releasing molecule (Lyso-CORM). Lyso-CORM is very stable under dark conditions. CO and singlet oxygen (O) generation was effectively triggered under one photon and two photon excitation (800 nm) conditions.

Spectroscopy of C60+ and C120+ in the mid-infrared.

Infrared spectra of C60+ and C120+, obtained via helium messenger spectroscopy, are reported. For C60+, new absorption features have been found just above the discrete vibrational spectrum of the ion. The absorption profile, which is broad and contains little structure, is assigned to one or more electronic absorption transitions and is in good agreement with predictions from time-dependent density functional theory.

The Impact of Chronic Kidney Disease on the Mortality Rates of Patients with Urological Cancers-An Analysis of a Uro-Oncology Database from Eastern Europe.

(1) Background: The relationship between chronic kidney disease (CKD) and urological cancers is complex, as most of these cancers are diagnosed in patients with advanced ages, when the kidney function may be already impaired. On the other hand, urological cancers could represent a risk factor for CKD, significantly reducing the life expectancy of the patients. The main objective of our study was to analyze the impact of CKD on the overall mortality of patients diagnosed with the most frequent types of urological cancers.

Kinetic Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate in Predicting Paediatric Acute Kidney Disease.

Kinetic estimation of glomerular filtration rate (KeGFR) has proved its utility in predicting acute kidney injury (AKI) in both adults and children. Our objective is to assess the clinical utility of KeGFR in predicting AKI severity and progression to acute kidney disease (AKD) in patients already diagnosed with AKI and to examine major adverse kidney events at 30 days (MAKE30). We retrospectively calculated the KeGFR within the first 24 h of identified AKI (KeGFR) and in the 24 h prior to AKD (KeGFR) in all admitted children under 18 years old.

Acute kidney injury in children: incidence, awareness and outcome-a retrospective cohort study.

The primary objective was to determine the epidemiologic influence of AKI awareness among physicians in a mixt paediatric population, including neonates. This single-centre, multiyear, observational retrospective study included all admitted patients between first of July 2014 and 31 December 2021. AKI was identified in 2194 patients out of the 128,036 hospital admissions with 129,936 serum creatinine measurements.