Geographic Atrophy Secondary to Subclinical Angioid Streaks in Age-Related Macular Degeneration: Progression of the Disease at 2-Year Follow-Up.

Introduction: The purpose of the study is to characterize the rate of progression of geographic atrophy (GA) areas in patients with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) with subclinical angioid streaks (AS), compared to patients with AMD without subclinical AS.

Methods: This is a retrospective, longitudinal, case-control study. Among a cohort of patients with AMD, we selected patients with GA with subclinical AS and followed them for a 2-year follow-up.

A project to define standards for radiology staffing, education and training across the European Union.

The European Union Radiation, Education, Staffing & Training (EU-REST) study was a European Commission-funded, 24-month project that analysed workforce availability, education and training needs to ensure quality and safety aspects of medical applications involving ionising radiation in the EU and developed staffing and education/training guidelines for key professional groups involved in ensuring radiation safety and quality of medical radiation applications in the EU Member States. This article outlines the origin, development, goals and overall structure of the project. CRITICAL RELEVANCE STATEMENT: This article provides a concise overview of the EU-REST project, which analysed the workforce availability of health professionals involved in the use of ionising radiation for diagnostic and therapeutic procedures and the corresponding education and training in radiation protection.

Incorporation of isolated Ag atoms and Au nanoparticles in copper nitride for selective CO electroreduction to multicarbon alcohols.

CO electroreduction has recently been explored as an alternative to CO electroreduction for multicarbon product formation, because it bypasses the large carbon loss associated with CO electroreduction. Although ethylene is generally obtained as the major product, shifting electrolysis towards the production of alcohols is an industrially promising path forward. Here we report a trimetallic-copper-based catalyst, consisting of copper nitride doped with gold nanoparticles and isolated silver atoms, with high selectivity for the formation of C alcohols (Faradic efficiency for ethanol + n-propanol is >70%), within gas-fed flow cells at high current densities.

Endometrium-derived organoids from cystic fibrosis patients and mice as new models to study disease-associated endometrial pathobiology.

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a life-shortening genetic disorder, caused by mutations in the CF transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) protein that regulates ion and fluid transport in epithelial tissue. Female CF patients face considerable fertility challenges, with higher prevalence of deficient fertility compared to healthy women. Not much is known about the underlying causes.

Impact of treatment for adolescent and young adults with essential thrombocythemia and polycythemia vera.

Essential thrombocythemia (ET) and polycythemia vera (PV) are rare in adolescent and young adult (AYA). These conditions, similar to those in older patients, are linked with thrombotic complications and the potential progression to secondary myelofibrosis (sMF). This retrospective study of ET and PV patients diagnosed before age 25 evaluated complication rates and impact of cytoreductive drugs on outcomes.

Best Practices for Imaging of Transcatheter Valve Failure: An Update From the Heart Valve Collaboratory.

This updated Heart Valve Collaboratory framework addresses the growing concern for transcatheter valve failure (TVF) following transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). With the increasing volume of redo-TAV and surgical TAV explantation, there is a critical need for standardized pathways and protocols for evaluating TVF using echocardiography and cardiac computed tomography (CT) angiography. This document clarifies prior definitions of bioprosthetic valve deterioration and bioprosthetic valve failure in a practical, imaging directed context for TAVR.

The relationship between brain and visceral asymmetry: Evidence from situs inversus in humans.

This review examines the relationship between visceral and brain asymmetry and explores whether their alignment observed in some vertebrate species also exists in humans. While the development of visceral and brain asymmetry may have occurred for different reasons, it is possible that the basic mechanisms for left-right differentiation of the visceral system were duplicated in the brain. We describe the main phenotypical anomalies and the general mechanism of left-right differentiation in vertebrates, followed by a systematic review of available human studies on behavioral and brain asymmetry in individuals with reversed visceral organization.

The added value of home-uroflowmetry; Analysing an individuals' VV-Qmax curve and inflection point.

Objectives: To analyse individual VV-Qmax plots based on multiple home uroflowmetries and compare these with cross-sectional nomograms.

Methods: Healthy volunteers (16-69 years) without LUTS were asked to take a Minze Homeflow device home to register 25 uroflows. Participants reporting urinary tract disorders, malignancy or medication affecting bladder function were excluded.

Reconstruction of the trapezium with structural bone graft in trapeziometacarpal joint arthroplasty with cup instability.

Periprosthetic complications after trapeziometacarpal arthroplasty mostly require revision surgery to restore function. An unstable cup in the trapezium is typically surgically managed by trapeziectomy. This report highlights a possible alternative to maintain the implant by reconstruction of the trapezium with corticocancellous autograft.

Maternal factors during pregnancy and pubertal timing in offspring: A systematic review of the literature.

Purpose: This systematic review aims to identify, assess the quality of and synthesize evidence on non-genetic maternal factors, such as psychological factors, lifestyle, nutrition, and endocrine conditions that may be associated with pubertal timing in male and female offspring.

Methods: The search was conducted in Medline, Embase, PsycInfo and Web of Science. The reference lists of retrieved articles were checked to avoid missing relevant studies.

Real-time automated assessment of histological disease activity in patients with ulcerative colitis using single-wavelength endoscopy technology.

Single-wavelength endoscopy (SWE) has shown promising results in assessing histological disease activity in ulcerative colitis. Our objective was to validate the real-time performance of a bedside prototype of SWE computer-aided diagnosis (CAD) as proof of concept.A bedside module for real-time use evaluated histological disease activity when endoscopy was performed in the rectum and sigmoid based on white-light endoscopy and SWE (410 nm monochromatic light).

Comparison of 30-day complications between a tine-based and a screw-in helix fixation single-chamber ventricular leadless pacemaker. Results of a propensity-matched analysis from a multicentre, nationwide registry.

Background: Medtronic Micra VR and Abbott Aveir VR are two single-chamber ventricular leadless pacemakers (L-PMs) currently available in clinical practice. They differ in their design, fixation mechanism (tine-based fixation for Micra VR, screw-in helix fixation for Aveir VR), and implantation technique. Little comparative safety data are available for these LPMs.

IAEA activities to support the member states in the production of targeted alpha therapy radiopharmaceuticals.

Due to the growing interest of International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Member States in implementing targeted radionuclide therapy (TRT) in general, the demand for alpha-emitting radionuclides and radiopharmaceuticals is enormous. As an international platform for peaceful applications of radionuclides, the IAEA has been implementing several activities focusing on the production and quality control of alpha emitters and radiopharmaceuticals as well as capacity building in the field, through Technical Meetings, Workshops, Publications and Conference Supports, IAEA-Coordinated Research Projects (CRP) and Technical Cooperation Program (TC). This review article summarises the IAEA activities on the production and quality control of alpha emitter radiopharmaceuticals for targeted alpha therapy (TAT) and a roadmap to future steps including but not limited to the ongoing CRP on Ac-radiopharmaceuticals.

Tiny shifts, major ripples: Unravelling micro-mechanisms in the building of mother-infant attachment and psychophysiological regulation.

Parental nurturing touch plays a crucial role in early infant development by activating C-Tactile afferents, which trigger neurobiological pathways essential for parent-infant bonding and the building of attachment. This process is said to regulate the infant's parasympathetic nervous system, fostering emotional and physiological connection with the caregiver. Research has consistently shown that CT-mediated touch enhances infant parasympathetic tone, yet no clear patterns of mutual co-regulation between parent and infant have been reported.

Child maltreatment, adult romantic attachment and parental sense of competence.

Background: While the link between childhood maltreatment and parental sense of competence has been established, there is limited understanding of the mediating mechanisms that explain this connection. Drawing from an attachment-based theoretical framework, childhood adversity undermines adult romantic attachment security, subsequently heightening vulnerability to later parenting in adulthood.

Objective: The objective of this study was to investigate the role of romantic attachment as a potential mechanism in the relationship between childhood maltreatment and the facets of parental sense of competence.

Effects of dietary supplementation with a polyherbal based product on sporozoites viability and on growth performance, lesion score, gut permeability, oocyst shedding count, tight junction, pro-inflammatory cytokine, and antioxidant enzyme in broiler chickens challenged with Eimeria spp.

Two in vivo and in vitro studies were conducted to investigate the effects of supplementation of a natural polyherbal mixture (PHM) manufactured from selected herbs in broiler chickens challenged with coccidiosis. For the in vitro trial, E. tenella and E.

Comprehensive review of emerging analytical methods for pea protein structure analysis: Advances and implications for food science over the last five years.

This review explores recent advancements in analytical techniques for characterizing pea protein structure. With growing interest in sustainable protein sources, understanding the relationship between pea protein's structure and its functionality has become essential. This review covers a range of methods used to assess the structural properties of pea protein, focusing on the impact of environmental and processing conditions, as well as interactions with other materials, including mid-infrared spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray methods and calorimetric methods.

Current understanding of insulin dysregulation and its relationship with carbohydrate and protein metabolism in horses.

Insulin dysregulation (ID) is a common metabolic disorder in horses, characterized by hyperinsulinemia and/or peripheral insulin resistance. The critical role of hyperinsulinemia in endocrinopathic laminitis has driven research into the insulinotropic effects of dietary nutrients and the reciprocal impact of ID on nutrient metabolism. The relationship between ID and carbohydrate metabolism has been extensively studied; however, the effects of ID on protein metabolism in horses remain largely unexplored.

Methods to assess on-farm biosecurity in Europe and beyond.

The aim of this study was to identify which biosecurity assessment methods (BAMs) are currently used in practice in animal farms. To address this, a structured questionnaire was developed to gather information such as the animal species, main objectives, type of enforcement, output generated and feedback of the result. In the context of the BETTER Cost Action project, country representatives identified in each of their countries which BAMs were used and completed an online survey.

Moderate versus ultra-hypofractionated locoregional breast radiotherapy: Results of a retrospective study during the covid-19 era.

Purpose: The use of ultra hypofractionated adjuvant breast radiotherapy for elderly patients was extended during the covid-19 pandemic. We compared its efficacy and safety versus moderate hypofractionation in elderly patients with breast cancer receiving locoregional radiotherapy at a single radiotherapy centre.

Methods: This retrospective analysis utilized routine patient data.

DFT-assisted machine learning for polyester membrane design in textile wastewater recovery applications.

Resource recovery from textile wastewater has attracted increasing interest because it simultaneously addresses wastewater treatment and maximizes the utilization of the residual dyes. Although polyester membranes have demonstrated great potential for textile wastewater recovery, tailoring high-performance polyester membranes remains a multidimensional challenge because of the complex nonlinear relationships between the membrane materials and their performance. Here we developed density functional theory (DFT)-assisted machine learning models that integrates DFT descriptors with fabrication and operation parameters to facilitate the generative design of polyester membranes.

Assessing Total Hip Arthroplasty Outcomes and Generating an Orthopedic Research Outcome Database via a Natural Language Processing Pipeline: Development and Validation Study.

Background: Processing data from electronic health records (EHRs) to build research-grade databases is a lengthy and expensive process. Modern arthroplasty practice commonly uses multiple sites of care, including clinics and ambulatory care centers. However, most private data systems prevent obtaining usable insights for clinical practice.