The impact of vitamin D3 administration and of high fat diet on oxidative stress and inflammation in experimentally induced polycystic ovary syndrome.

Background: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is commonly associated with obesity and may be exacerbated by the lack of vitamin D3.

Aim: The study aimed to investigate the effects of vitamin D3 administration in female rats with PCOS and prolonged high fat diet (HFD).

Methods: Forty-four female Wistar rats, 180-200 g, 10 weeks old, were randomly allocated into 2 groups (n=22) that received a single dose intramuscular injection of: sesame oil (group I), or estradiol valerate (5 mg) in sesame oil (group II).

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on students' future online education behaviour.

Background: The COVID-19-related pandemic has affected education hugely, particularly in terms of the massive shift towards online teaching and learning. Higher education students and professors have faced new challenges, which might improve future online education behaviour, based on online education experience and learning, and pedagogical strategies during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Objective/aim: The aim of this paper is to explore the views of Romanian students towards a possible future online education, highlighting their perceptions regarding the efficacy of digital online learning/pedagogical strategies and of the technological infrastructure, using as support theory the Input-Environment-Outcomes (I-E-O) model.

The overestimation of the effect sizes of psychotherapies for depression in waitlist controlled trials: a meta-analytic comparison with usual care controlled trials.

Aims: There is considerable evidence that waiting list (WL) control groups overestimate the effect sizes of psychotherapies for depression. It is not clear, however, what are the exact causes for this overestimation. We decided to conduct a meta-analytic study to compare trials on psychotherapy for depression with a WL control group against trials with a care-as-usual (CAU) control group.

Male fertility is preserved following ixekizumab treatment-a real life pilot study.

Introduction: Preserving fertility is crucial when managing male patients with spondyloarthritis (SpA) and/or psoriasis (PsO), especially in young men. Chronic inflammation, hormonal dysregulation, and immunosuppressive therapies can negatively impact male fertility. Over the past decades, positive data have emerged regarding the reproductive safety of various therapies in men.

Intraoperative imaging of residual ovarian cancer after neoadjuvant chemotherapy using indocyanine green.

Objectives: Interval debulking surgery has similar outcomes and less morbidity compared with primary debulking in advanced ovarian cancer. However, there is controversy regarding the selection of chemotherapy-resistant clones. Complete resection is an essential prerequisite, and near-infrared surgery combined with various techniques for highlighting malignant foci strives to achieve actual complete resection.

Comparative efficacy of interpersonal psychotherapy and antidepressant medication for adult depression: a systematic review and individual participant data meta-analysis.

Interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT) and antidepressant medications are both first-line interventions for adult depression, but their relative efficacy in the long term and on outcome measures other than depressive symptomatology is unknown. Individual participant data (IPD) meta-analyses can provide more precise effect estimates than conventional meta-analyses. This IPD meta-analysis compared the efficacy of IPT and antidepressants on various outcomes at post-treatment and follow-up (PROSPERO: CRD42020219891).

Exploring the impact of filament density on the responsiveness of 3D-Printed bolus materials for high-energy photon radiotherapy.

Background: 3D-printed boluses in radiation therapy receive consideration for their ability to enhance treatment precision and patient comfort. Yet, thorough validation of 3D-printed boluses using various validation procedures and statistical analysis is missing. This study aims to determine the effectiveness of using 3D-printed boluses in radiation therapy.

Recycled Aggregates Influence on the Mechanical Properties of Cement Lime-Based Mortars.

The current framework for managing construction waste, guided by European Union regulations, calls for an integrated waste management system. However, the reuse of old plaster waste, particularly from deteriorated facades, remains underexplored. This study investigates the potential of repurposing old plaster waste as a substitute for aggregates and cement in mortars, with the aim of promoting environmental sustainability and resource efficiency.

An Uncommon Overlap Syndrome Between Ankylosing Spondylitis and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis-Case Report.

This case report describes an uncommon overlap syndrome between ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Initially, the patient was diagnosed with AS, for which he received various specific treatments, including TNF-α inhibitors. After five years of treatment with TNF-α inhibitor etanercept, the patient was referred for a full neurological assessment after he reported balance disturbances, postural instability, muscle weakness, and other neurological symptoms that indicated the presence of a neurological disorder.

In-Depth Theoretical Investigations of Borazine's Aromaticity: Tailoring Electron Delocalization through Substituent Effects.

The current study investigates the influence of several R substituents (e.g., Me, SiH, F, Cl, Br, OH, NH, etc.

New Quinazolin-4(3H)-One Derivatives Incorporating Isoxazole Moiety as Antioxidant Agents: Synthesis, Structural Characterization, and Theoretical DFT Mechanistic Study.

: This research centers on the development and spectroscopic characterization of new quinazolin-4(3H)-one-isoxazole derivatives (). The aim was to investigate the regioselectivity of the 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition involving arylnitriloxides and N-propargylquinazolin-4(3H)-one, and to assess the antioxidant properties of the synthesized compounds. The synthetic approach started with the alkylation of quinazolin-4(3H)-one using propargyl bromide, followed by a 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reaction.

Circulating miR-18a and miR-532 Levels in Extrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma.

: Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is a highly aggressive cancer of the bile ducts with a poor prognosis and limited diagnostic markers. This study aims to investigate the potential of miR-18a and miR-532 as biomarkers for CCA by exploring their correlations with clinical parameters and traditional tumor markers such as CA19.9, CEA, and AFP.

The Effects of Pediatric Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Treatment on Cardiac Repolarization.

: In recent years, cardiac dysfunction in childhood cancer survivors has become an important issue. Studies are focusing on identifying means for the early identification of patients at risk. Considering this, our study aims to investigate 24-hour Holter electrocardiogram (ECG) repolarization changes throughout doxorubicin (DOX) and cyclophosphamide (CPM) administration in pediatric patients treated for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).

Chemical Composition and Antioxidant Activity of Six Extracts Using Protein-Based Biomimetic Methods.

Medicinal plants are a valuable reservoir of novel pharmacologically active compounds. ROS and free radicals are primary contributors to oxidative stress, a condition associated with the onset of degenerative diseases such as cancer, coronary heart disease, and vascular disease. In this study, we used different spectrophotometry methods to demonstrate the antioxidant properties of 6 extracts: ; ; : Arieș red cultivar of , and white variety of ; ; and subsp.

Bat-associated ticks as a potential link for vector-borne pathogen transmission between bats and other animals.

Background: Potentially zoonotic pathogens have been previously detected in bat-associated ticks, but their role in disease transmission and their frequency of feeding on non-bat hosts is poorly known.

Methodology/principal Findings: We used molecular blood meal analysis to reveal feeding patterns of the bat-associated tick species Ixodes ariadnae, I. simplex, and I.

Doxorubicin Incorporation into Gold Nanoparticles: An In Vivo Study of Its Effects on Cardiac Tissue in Rats.

Gold nanoparticles (Au-NPs) have been explored as potential vectors for enhancing the antitumor efficacy of doxorubicin (DOX) while minimizing its cardiotoxic effects. However, the impacts of DOX Au-NPs on cardiac function and oxidative stress remain inadequately understood. This study aimed to explore the effects of DOX Au-NPs in comparison to free DOX, focusing on oxidative stress markers, inflammation, ultrastructural changes, and cardiac function.

Multi-Annual Study of (Linnaeus, 1758) (Lepidoptera, Lasiocampidae) Oviposition Strategy in Transylvania's Largest Population: Key Insights for Species Conservation and Local Land Management.

This study provides new insights into the oviposition strategy of (Linnaeus, 1758) (Lepidoptera, Lasiocampidae), an endangered species of moth found in semi-natural habitats within agricultural landscapes. Protected under various European directives and listed as Data Deficient by the IUCN, inhabits warmer regions of the Western Palearctic. Despite noted geographic variations in its ecological preferences, few studies have statistically significant data on its ecology.

The effectiveness of Problem Management Plus at 1-year follow-up for Syrian refugees in a high-income setting.

Aims: Problem Management Plus (PM+) has been effective in reducing mental health problems among refugees at three-month follow-up, but there is a lack of research on its long-term effectiveness. This study examined the effectiveness of PM+ in reducing symptoms of common mental disorders at 12-month follow-up among Syrian refugees in the Netherlands.

Methods: This single-blind, parallel, controlled trial randomised 206 adult Syrians who screened positive for psychological distress and impaired functioning to either PM+ in addition to care as usual (PM+/CAU) or CAU alone.

Cancer Prevalence across Vertebrates.

Cancer is pervasive across multicellular species, but what explains the differences in cancer prevalence across species? Using 16,049 necropsy records for 292 species spanning three clades of tetrapods (amphibians, sauropsids, and mammals), we found that neoplasia and malignancy prevalence increases with adult mass (contrary to Peto's paradox) and somatic mutation rate but decreases with gestation time. The relationship between adult mass and malignancy prevalence was only apparent when we controlled for gestation time. Evolution of cancer susceptibility appears to have undergone sudden shifts followed by stabilizing selection.

Witnessing their mother's acute and prolonged stress affects executive functioning in children.

Stress can detrimentally affect physical and mental health, especially during childhood. During this critical period, parental bonds can foster resilience or amplify stress. This study explored whether mothers' everyday stress can act as a source of childhood stress, affecting children's executive functioning.

Heterochronous mitogenomes shed light on the Holocene history of the Scandinavian brown bear.

Following glacial retreat after the last ice age, brown bears (Ursus arctos) recolonised Scandinavia. Previous research based on mitochondrial markers suggests that bears recolonised from both the north and the south, with a contact zone in central Scandinavia. More recently, the Scandinavian brown bear was subjected to a strong population decline with only ca.

Comparative efficacy of PsyPills and OCAT mobile psychological interventions in reducing depressive, anxiety and stress symptoms: A blinded randomized clinical trial.

Background: Digital applications, such as in smartphone apps format, have shown high suggestive evidence for their efficacy in reducing general distress, but rigorous studies of their efficacy in symptom change and the mechanisms involved are still needed.

Methods: In the current multi-arm parallel-group randomized trial, participants aged 18-65 with smartphone access were recruited through social media. They were randomly assigned to two app interventions (PsyPills and OCAT) or an active placebo group (shamOCAT).

The Fungal Side of the Story: Saprotrophic- vs. Symbiotrophic-Predicted Ecological Roles of Fungal Communities in Two Meromictic Hypersaline Lakes from Romania.

Over three-quarters of Earth's surface exhibits extreme environments where life thrives under harsh physicochemical conditions. While prokaryotes have often been investigated in these environments, only recent studies have revealed the remarkable adaptability of eukaryotes, in particular fungi. This study explored the mycobiota of two meromictic hypersaline lakes, Ursu and Fără Fund, in Transylvania (Romania).