Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids and Human Health: A Key to Modern Nutritional Balance in Association with Polyphenolic Compounds from Food Sources.

Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) are vital dietary elements that play a significant role in human nutrition. They are highly regarded for their positive contributions to overall health and well-being. Beyond the fact that they provide a substantial supply of energy to the body (a role that saturated fats can also perform), these unsaturated fatty acids and, especially, the essential ones are involved in cell membrane structure, blood pressure regulation, and coagulation; participate in the proper functioning of the immune system and assimilation of fat-soluble vitamins; influence the synthesis of pro- and anti-inflammatory substances; and protect the cardiovascular system.

Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection Involving the Left Main with Extension to Left Anterior Descending Artery and Left Circumflex Artery: Diagnostic and Management Challenges.

Spontaneous coronary artery dissection is a rare cause of unstable angina, myocardial infarction, and sudden cardiac death, particularly among young women and individuals without conventional atherosclerotic risk factors. We present the case of a 43-year-old woman who had spontaneous coronary artery dissection involving the left main with extension to left anterior descending artery and left circumflex artery. She was ultimately managed medically, with a good outcome.

The Role of Antioxidant Plant Extracts' Composition and Encapsulation in Dietary Supplements and Gemmo-Derivatives, as Safe Adjuvants in Metabolic and Age-Related Conditions: A Review.

Given the current global circumstances, marked by severe environmental pollution-including the contamination of food-along with daily stress and a sedentary lifestyle, many consumers choose to improve their quality of life by using, among others, minimally processed food, food supplements, and gemmo-derivatives. Recent lab and clinical studies have shown the positive impact of specific nutrients with antioxidant capacities in the treatment of several conditions generated by oxidative stress. This paper reviews antioxidant plant extracts utilized as components in various dietary supplements and gemmoderivatives, highlighting their chemical composition and biological properties in preventing diseases caused by oxidative stress.

Alterations in Biomarkers Associated with Cardiovascular Health and Obesity with Short-Term Lifestyle Changes in Overweight Women: The Role of Exercise and Diet.

: In this study, the effects of an eight-week exercise and nutrition program on blood lipids, glucose, insulin, insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), leptin, ghrelin, irisin, malondialdehyde (MDA), and Growth Differentiation Factor 15 (GDF15) in overweight women were investigated. : A total of 48 women volunteers participated in this study. The participants were randomly divided into four groups: control (C), exercise (E), nutrition (N), exercise + nutrition (E + N).

Evaluating the Effectiveness of Brief Interventions for Smoking Cessation Performed by Family Doctors.

: Tobacco smoking is the most important cause of chronic diseases and premature death worldwide. Very brief advice (VBA) and brief advice (BA) represent evidence-based interventions designed to increase quit attempts. These are appropriate for all smokers, regardless of their motivation to quit, and involve several steps regarding the assessment, advice, and action.

Exploring the Connections Between Grip Strength, Nutritional Status, Frailty, Depression, and Cognition as Initial Assessment Tools in Geriatric Rehabilitation-A Pilot Study.

In the context of the rapidly aging global population, the older adult vulnerability poses a significant challenge for public health systems. Frailty, cognitive and nutritional status, depression, and grip strength are essential parameters for staging the vulnerability of older adults. The objective of this study is to identify a rapid but multidimensional geriatric assessment tool that can enhance the rehabilitation process for older adults, tailored to their specific needs.

Cerebral iron accumulation in multiple sclerosis: Pathophysiology and therapeutic implications.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic autoimmune disorder of the central nervous system characterized by demyelination, neuroinflammation, and neurodegeneration. Recent studies highlight the role of cerebral iron (Fe) accumulation in exacerbating MS pathophysiology. Fe, essential for neural function, contributes to oxidative stress and inflammation when dysregulated, particularly in the brain's gray matter and demyelinated lesions.

Regulations of activities and protection levels in marine protected areas of the European Union: A dataset compiled from multiple data sources.

The dataset gathers available regulations of human activities and protection levels of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) of the European Union (EU). The MPA list and polygons were extracted from the MPA database of the European Environment Agency (EEA) and completed with available zoning systems (all were filtered for their marine area reported under the Marine Strategy Framework Directive). Fully-overlapping MPAs were merged.

Novel method to investigate thermal exchange rates in small, terrestrial ectotherms: A proof-of-concept on the gecko Tarentola mauritanica.

Thermoregulating ectotherms may resort to different external heat sources to modulate their body temperature through an array of behavioural and physiological adaptations which modulate heat exchange with the environment and its distribution across the animal's body. Even small-bodied animals are capable of fine control over such rates and the subsequent re-allocation of heat across the body. Such thermal exchanges with the environment usually happen through two non-mutually exclusive modes: heliothermy (radiant heat gain from the sun) or thigmothermy (heat gained or lost via conduction).

Actionable NSCLC Mutation Identification by Comprehensive Genomic Profiling for Clinical Trial Enrollment: The European Program for the Routine Testing of Patients With Advanced Lung Cancer (EPROPA).

Introduction: The advocacy Women Against Lung Cancer in Europe (WALCE) promoted the European Program for the Routine Testing of Patients With Advanced Lung Cancer (EPROPA) and provided a free-of-charge molecular profiling platform for NSCLC sample characterization with the aim of increasing the detection of targetable drivers and improving patients' access to clinical trials in Europe.

Methods: From January 2021 to December 2023, 20 centers located at five different European countries (Greece, Slovenia, Romania, Albania, and Italy) joined EPROPA, with 555 patients with advanced NSCLC registered to the program. Anonymized patients' clinical-pathological data were shared through the EPROPA web platform and tissue samples were collected at the Molecular Pathology Unit of the Reference Center (University of Turin) for molecular analyses.

Transfusion Requirements for Severe Anemia in Acute Cardiovascular Patients-A Single Center Retrospective Study in Constanta County Cardiology Department.

Anemia is common in hospitalized cardiac patients and affects prognosis and cardiovascular mortality in patients with acute decompensated heart failure. to investigate the impact of anemia severity, blood transfusion practices, and the evolution and outcome in patients with acute cardiovascular events. We performed a retrospective analysis of the patients hospitalized in the Cardiology Department of Constanta County Hospital who required blood derivatives transfusions, between 1 January 2021 and 31 December 2021.

Optimizing Suitable Mechanical Properties for a Biocompatible Beta-Titanium Alloy by Combining Plastic Deformation with Solution Treatment.

The microstructural and mechanical features were investigated for the alloy Ti-36.5Nb-4.5Zr-3Ta-0.

The Cost of Looking Up: Social Comparison as a Partial Mediator Between Social Anxiety and Vindictive Behavior in a Non-anonymous Ultimatum Game.

Self-appraisals in relation to internalized standards are fundamental constructs in clinical and evolutionary models of Social Anxiety (SA). Empirical evidence has consistently shown that socially anxious individuals tend to engage in upward social comparisons and aim to adjust their social standing accordingly. However, the consequences of perceiving oneself as inferior to others within social contexts remain under-explored.

Intestinal Insights: The Gut Microbiome's Role in Atherosclerotic Disease: A Narrative Review.

Recent advances have highlighted the gut microbiota as a significant contributor to the development and progression of atherosclerosis, which is an inflammatory cardiovascular disease (CVD) characterized by plaque buildup within arterial walls. The gut microbiota, consisting of a diverse collection of microorganisms, impacts the host's metabolism, immune responses, and lipid processing, all of which contribute to atherosclerosis. This review explores the complex mechanisms through which gut dysbiosis promotes atherogenesis.

Decoding Motor Skills: Video Analysis Unveils Age-Specific Patterns in Childhood and Adolescent Movement.

Motor skill development is crucial in human growth, evolving with the maturation of the nervous and musculoskeletal systems. Quantifying these skills, especially coordinative abilities, remains challenging. This study aimed to assess the performance of five motor tasks in children and adolescents using high-speed video analysis, providing data for movement and health professionals.

Prognostic Implications of Initial Radiological Findings of Pulmonary Fibrosis in Patients with Acute SARS-CoV-2 Infection: A Prospective Multicentric Study.

Pulmonary fibrosis detected during the acute phase of SARS-CoV-2 infection may significantly influence patient prognosis. This study aimed to evaluate the prognostic value of initial high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) findings of pulmonary fibrosis in hospitalized COVID-19 patients and to examine how these findings relate to disease severity and clinical outcomes, with a particular focus on the development and validation of predictive scoring systems. In this multicentric prospective cohort study from January 2023 to January 2024, 120 adult patients with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection requiring hospitalization were enrolled from two Romanian university hospitals.

The Relationship between Sleep Bruxism Index and Quality of Life.

Aim Of The Study: The aim of this study was represented by the identification of the type of relation between the bruxism sleep index and the global quality of life.

Materials And Methods: The study group was composed of a number of 40 patients, both women and men, who did not report health problems and who were identified with a positive self-report regarding the existence of sleep bruxism. For the identification of the bruxism index, the Bruxoff device, Bioelettronica, Turin, Italy, was used.

The Impact of Intermittent Hypoxia-Hyperoxia Therapy on Metabolism and Respiratory System in Obese Patients as Part of Comprehensive Medical Rehabilitation.

Introduction Obesity is a complex condition characterized by excessive accumulation of body fat, which can have multiple causes, including genetic factors, inadequate diet, lack of physical exercise, and socioeconomic factors. Obesity can cause significant respiratory changes, so obese patients present pulmonary complications more frequently than individuals with normal weight. Improving respiratory function is an important aspect of obesity management, as it can reduce the risk of pulmonary complications and improve patients' quality of life.

Molecular Targets of Plant-Derived Bioactive Compounds in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

Background: With a significant increase in both incidence and mortality, oral cancer-particularly oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC)-is one of the main causes of death in developing countries. Even though there is evidence of advances in surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy, the overall survival rate for patients with OSCC has improved, but by a small percentage. This may be due, on the one hand, to the fact that the disease is diagnosed when it is at a too-advanced stage, when metastases are already present.

Correlations between dyslipidemia and retinal parameters measured with Angio-OCT in type II diabetics without diabetic retinopathy.

Aim: To analyze the relationship between lipoproteins such as total cholesterol, LDL-c, TG, and retinal parameters in patients with DM type II without signs of DR.

Method: A case-control study, consisting of 2 groups. A group of 64 patients with type II diabetes without signs of DR and a control group of 24 healthy subjects.

Exploring the Therapeutic Potential of N-Methyl-D-Aspartate Receptor Antagonists in Neuropathic Pain Management.

Neuropathic pain (NeP) is a complex and debilitating condition that impacts millions of people globally. Although various treatment options exist, their effectiveness is often limited, and they can be accompanied by significant side effects. In recent years, there has been increasing interest in targeting the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) as a potential therapeutic approach to alleviate different types of neuropathic pain.

Case report: intracoronary stent fracture complicated with coronary abscess and fistulization into the pericardium.

Background: Stent fractures are a rare complication of angioplasties and are an unusual substrate for coronary abscesses.

Case Summary: A 63-year-old patient came into the emergency department for ongoing chest pain. The patient had recently undergone coronary stent implantation, 3 months prior.

Orienteering Is More than Just Running! Acute Effect of Competitive Pressure on Autonomic Cardiac Activity among Elite Orienteering Athletes.

: Orienteering is a sport characterized by high physical exertion and intense mental demands, which increase susceptibility to errors. Understanding the impact of such errors on psychophysiological responses, particularly on heart rate variability (HRV), is essential. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between psychophysiological indicators and checkpoint errors made by elite orienteers during official competition.