Prospective association between breakfast consumption frequency and BMI z-score among European school-aged children. The Feel4Diabetes Study.

Background: The long-term effects of breakfast on childhood z-BMI remain inconclusive.

Objective: To prospectively assess the impact of stable and altered breakfast consumption habits on z-BMI change over two years, in school-aged children across six European countries.

Methods: Data of 6,528 children (8.

Clinical patterns and outcomes of patients affected by primary malignant melanoma of the oral mucosa: A European multicenter retrospective chart review.

Introduction: The purpose of this European multicenter study was to describe and assess the characteristics, diagnosis, management, and recurrence of oral malignant melanoma at different European oral and maxillofacial surgery centers.

Materials And Methods: This study was based on a systematic computer-assisted database that allowed the recording of data for all primary oral mucosal melanomas treated in the involved surgical units across Europe between January 1, 2003 and December 31, 2022. The following data were recorded for each patient: gender, age, site, TNM staging, metastases, symptoms, imaging features, histopathological features, treatment, complications, recurrence, follow up, and survival.

How can cervical screening meet the needs of vulnerable women? A qualitative comparative study with stakeholder perspectives from seven European countries.

Objective: This study explored and compared stakeholder perspectives on enhancements to cervical cancer screening for vulnerable women across seven European countries.

Design: In a series of Collaborative User Boards, stakeholders were invited to collaborate on identifying facilitators to improve cervical cancer screening.

Setting: This study was part of the CBIG-SCREEN project which is funded by the European Union and targets disparities in cervical cancer screening for vulnerable women (www.

Long-term exposure to air pollution and greenness in association with respiratory emergency room visits and hospitalizations: The Life-GAP project.

Background: Air pollution has been linked to respiratory diseases, while the effects of greenness remain inconclusive.

Objective: We investigated the associations between exposure to particulate matter (PM and PM), black carbon (BC), nitrogen dioxide (NO), ozone (O), and greenness (normalized difference vegetation index, NDVI) with respiratory emergency room visits and hospitalizations across seven Northern European centers in the European Community Respiratory Health Survey (ECRHS) study.

Methods: We used modified mixed-effects Poisson regression to analyze associations of exposure in 1990, 2000 and mean exposure 1990-2000 with respiratory outcomes recorded duing ECRHS phases II and III.

Whole genome sequencing characterization of Clostridioides difficile from Bulgaria during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Increased incidence of Clostridioides difficile infections were documented in Bulgarian hospitals during COVID-19. WGS was performed on 39 isolates from seven hospitals during 2015-2022. Antimicrobial resistance and toxin genes were inferred from genomes.

Resveratrol-A Promising Therapeutic Agent with Problematic Properties.

Resveratrol is a natural polyphenol (stilbenoid), which can be found in grape skin, red wine, blueberries, peanuts and others. The biological properties of resveratrol, in particular antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, estrogenic, vasorelaxant and cardioprotective activity, are the main reason for its importance in medicine and pharmacy. Despite all of its advantages, however, there are many problems related to this polyphenolic substance, such as low stability, water insolubility, poor bioavailability and fast metabolism.

Water-Soluble Vitamins: Hypo- and Hypervitaminosis in Pediatric Population.

Background/objectives: Water-soluble vitamins, comprising the B-complex vitamins and vitamin C, are essential for normal growth, cellular metabolism, and immune function in pediatric populations. Due to limited storage in the body, these vitamins require consistent intake to prevent deficiencies. Pediatric populations, particularly infants and young children, face a heightened risk of both deficiency and, in rare cases, toxicity due to varying dietary intake and increased developmental needs.

Hydrogels of Poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) and Poly(N,N-dimethylacrylamide) Interpenetrating Polymer Networks as Dermal Delivery Systems for Dexamethasone.

: This study is an attempt to reveal the potential of two types of interpenetrating polymer network (IPN) hydrogels based on poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (PHEMA) and poly(N,N-dimethylacrylamide) (PDMAM). These IPNs were evaluated for their potential for dermal delivery of the hydrophobic drug dexamethasone (DEX). : The two types of IPNs were analyzed for their rheological behavior, swelling characteristics, and drug-loading capacity with DEX.

Comprehensive GC-MS Characterization and Histochemical Assessment of Various Parts of Three Species from Bulgarian Flora.

This study presents a comprehensive phyto- and histochemical analysis of three species: L., the Balkan endemic Guss., and the Bulgarian endemic Delip.

Modulation of Zn Ion Toxicity in L. by Phycoremediation.

Microalgae offer a promising alternative for heavy metal removal, and the search for highly efficient strains is ongoing. This study investigated the potential of two microalgae, sp. BGV (Chlorophyta) and Schwabe & Simonsen (Cyanoprokaryota), to bind zinc ions (Zn⁺) and protect higher plants.

Redox-Modulating Capacity and Effect of Ethyl Acetate Roots and Aerial Parts Extracts from L. on the Phenotype Inhibition of the Las/RhI Quorum Sensing System.

is an opportunistic pathogen that causes nosocomial infections of the urinary tract, upper respiratory tract, gastrointestinal tract, central nervous system, etc. It is possible to develop bacteremia and sepsis in immunocompromised patients. A major problem in treatment is the development of antibiotic resistance.

An Extensive Study of an Eco-Friendly Fireproofing Process of Lignocellulosic × Particles and Their Application in Flame-Retardant Panels.

Increasing the flame retardancy of lignocellulosic materials such as × can effectively enable their wide use. This study examines the fireproofing process of Miscanthus particles using an eco-friendly process by grafting phytic acid and urea in aqueous solution. Miscanthus particles underwent a steam explosion step before being grafted.

-Lyophilized Fruit Extract Attenuated Acute Redox-Homeostatic Imbalance via Mutagenic and Oxidative Stress Modulation in Mice Model on Gentamicin-Induced Nephrotoxicity.

Gentamicin (GM) administration is associated with decreased metabolism, increased oxidative stress, and induction of nephrotoxicity. L., containing flavonoids, anthocyanins, and phytosterols, possesses antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potential.

Spinorphin Molecules as Opportunities for Incorporation into Spinorphin@AuNPs Conjugate Systems for Potential Sustained Targeted Delivery to the Brain.

This study explores the potential for the synthesis of peptide nanosystems comprising spinorphin molecules (with rhodamine moiety: Rh-S, Rh-S5, and Rh-S6) conjugated with nanoparticles (AuNPs), specifically peptide Rh-S@AuNPs, peptide Rh-S5@AuNPs, and peptide Rh-S6@AuNPs, alongside a comparative analysis of the biological activities of free and conjugated peptides. The examination of the microstructural characteristics of the obtained peptide systems and their physicochemical properties constitutes a key focus of this study. Zeta (ζ) potential, Fourier transformation infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, circular dichroism (CD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM-EDS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and UV-Vis spectrophotometry were employed to elucidate the structure-activity correlations of the peptide@nano AuNP systems.

Channeled Polarimetry for Magnetic Field/Current Detection.

Magneto-optical magnetic field/current sensors are based on the Faraday effect, which involves changing the polarized state of light. Polarimetric methods are therefore used for measuring polarization characteristics. Channeled polarimetry allows polarization information to be obtained from the analysis of the spectral domain.

Modeling of Measuring Transducers for Relay Protection Systems of Electrical Installations.

The process of establishing relay protection and automation (RPA) settings for electric power systems (EPSs) entails complex calculations of operating modes. Traditionally, these calculations are based on symmetrical components, which require the building of equivalent circuits of various sequences. This approach can lead to errors both when identifying the operating modes and when modeling the RPA devices.

Corrosion of Low-Alloy Steel in Ethanolamine Steam Generator Chemistry-The Effect of Temperature and Flow Rate.

The corrosion of low-alloy steel in ethanolamine solution, simulating steam generator chemistry, is studied by in situ chronopotentiometry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy combined with ex situ analysis of the obtained oxide films and model calculations. Hydrodynamic calculations of the proposed setup to study flow-assisted corrosion demonstrate that turbulent conditions are achieved. Quantum chemical calculations indicate the adsorption orientation of ethanolamine on the oxide surface.

Evaluation of the Proximate Composition of Walt. Seeds and Glyceride Oil.

The genus Amsonia, a member of the Apocynaceae family, comprises plants with notable medicinal benefits. In 2022 and 2023, Walt. seeds introduced to Bulgaria were collected and analyzed.

The General Principle of the Warburg Effect as a Possible Approach for Cancer Immunotherapy: The Regulatory Effect of Plant Extracts Could Change the Game.

The interpretation of the biochemistry of immune metabolism could be considered an attractive scientific field of biomedicine research. In this review, the role of glycolysis in macrophage polarization is discussed together with mitochondrial metabolism in cancer cells. In the first part, the focus is on the Warburg effect and redox metabolism during macrophage polarization, cancer development, and management of the immune response by the cancer cells.

Electrochemical Method for the Assay of Organic Peroxides Directly in Acetonitrile.

Lipid peroxidation is a major process that determines the quality of various oil samples during their use and storage, in which the primary products are hydroperoxides (HP'). HP' are very stable compounds at ambient conditions and are harmful to human health. Therefore, the evaluation of the degree of oil oxidation is an excellent tool for ensuring food safety.

Green Synthesis of Antibacterial CuO Nanoparticles Based on the Synergy Between Snail Mucus and Ascorbic Acid.

Many biologically active compounds have been identified in the mucus of the garden snail , which are effective in the treatment of several diseases such as cancer, ulcers, wounds, etc. The incorporation of these compounds into the green synthesis of copper nanoparticles (CuONPs-Muc) was demonstrated in our previous study. Based on the synergistic effect of two reducing agents- snail mucus and ascorbic acid (AsA)-on CuSO.

Black Chokeberry () Juice Supplementation Affects Age-Related Myocardial Remodeling in Rats.

Background: Cardiac aging is associated with myocardial remodeling and reduced angiogenesis. Counteracting these changes with natural products is a preventive strategy with great potential. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of fruit juice (AMJ) supplementation on age-related myocardial remodeling in aged rat hearts.

Mechanical Properties and Corrosion Resistance of Thin Ceria and Phosphate Mono- and Multilayers Deposited on Technically Pure Al 1050.

Calcium phosphates are often used for biomedical applications. Hydroxyapatite, for example, has a wide range of applications because it mimics the mineral component of natural bone. Widespread interest in the catalytic properties of ceria is due to its use in automotive catalytic converters.

Benefits of Microwave-Assisted Heat Treatment for Sintered Diopside Glass-Ceramics.

Sinter-crystallization is a specific method of producing glass-ceramics that allows the manufacture of complexly shaped products, composites and solder. However, it usually is limited when the glass powders used are characterized by a high crystallization trend. This study proposes a new opportunity to improve the sinter-crystallization and demonstrates the benefits of microwave processing using diopside (CaMg(SiO)) glass-ceramics with an enhanced crystallinity of ~70%.

In and out of Replication Stress: PCNA/RPA1-Based Dynamics of Fork Stalling and Restart in the Same Cell.

Replication forks encounter various impediments, which induce fork stalling and threaten genome stability, yet the precise dynamics of fork stalling and restart at the single-cell level remain elusive. Herein, we devise a live-cell microscopy-based approach to follow hydroxyurea-induced fork stalling and subsequent restart at 30 s resolution. We measure two distinct processes during fork stalling.