Factors associated with quality of life in long-COVID syndrome.

Approximately 10% of patients experience persistent symptoms following COVID-19, known as long-COVID syndrome. This cross-sectional study explored factors of quality of life (QoL) in 53 long-COVID patients. QoL was measured using the World Health Organization-Five Well-Being Index, fatigue with the Fatigue Visual Analogue Scale, and psychological health with the Depression-Anxiety-Stress-21 questionnaire.

Correction: Köksal et al. Interplay Between HIV and Human Pegivirus (HPgV) Load in Co-Infected Patients: Insights from Prevalence and Genotype Analysis. 2024, , 5.

In the original publication [...

Lytic Spectra of Tailed Bacteriophages: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

As natural predators of bacteria, tailed bacteriophages can be used in biocontrol applications, including antimicrobial therapy. Also, phage lysis is a detrimental factor in technological processes based on bacterial growth and metabolism. The spectrum of bacteria bacteriophages interact with is known as the host range.

Mindful Eating, BMI, Sleep, and Vitamin D: A Cross-Sectional Study of Cypriot and Greek Adults.

Background: Obesity and related health challenges remain significant concerns in Cyprus and Greece. Mindful eating (ME) has emerged as a behavioral approach to address these issues, yet its relationship with BMI, vitamin D levels, and sleep duration in Mediterranean populations is underexplored.

Objectives: This study aimed to examine associations between ME subcategories (Awareness, Distraction, Disinhibition, Emotional, and External Cues), BMI, vitamin D levels, and sleep duration among Cypriot and Greek adults across two cohorts.

Novel Anthraquinone Derivatives and Their Complexes with Metal Ions with Anticancer Activity: Structure/Redox and Chelation Activity Correlations.

Some specific anthraquinone derivatives (AQs) are known to be used widely as effective chemotherapeutic agents in the treatment of cancer. However, their fundamental shortcoming is the high rate of cardiotoxicity observed in treated patients, which is thought to be caused by the increase in production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) catalyzed by iron and copper. The development of improved AQs and other anticancer drugs with enhanced efficacy but reduced toxicity remains a high priority.

An Advanced Combinatorial System from Leaves and Propolis Enhances Antioxidants' Skin Delivery and Fibroblasts Functionality.

: Vine leaves are a bulky by-product that are disposed of and treated as waste in the wine production process. In the present study polyphenols from vine leaves were extracted and simultaneously encapsulated in a new delivery system consisting of liposomes and cyclodextrins. This system was further combined with propolis polyphenols encapsulated in cyclodextrins, resulting in a colloidal suspension for the release of antioxidants in a time-controlled way, the rate of which depends on the ratio of the materials.

Comparison of Standard and Point-of-Care CD4+ T Lymphocyte Measurement Methods in HIV-1 Infected Turkish Patients.

: CD4+ T lymphocytes are the primary targets of HIV infection. CD4+ T lymphocyte count is an indicator of immune competence. In this study, we aimed to compare standard flow cytometry and point-of-care (POC) CD4+ T lymphocyte in terms of cost, effectiveness, reliability, time, and the use of this method for disease.

Predictive Molecular Biomarkers of Bladder Cancer Identified by Next-Generation Sequencing-Preliminary Data.

The majority of patients with bladder cancer suffer from tumour recurrence. Identifying prognostic factors for tumour recurrence is crucial for treatment and follow-up in affected patients. The study aimed to assess the impact of somatic mutations in bladder cancer on patient outcomes and tumour recurrence.

Enhancing Communication and Swallowing Skills in Children with Cri Du Chat Syndrome: A Comprehensive Speech Therapy Guide.

A specific deletion on the short arm of chromosome 5 (5p) is the hallmark of the rare genetic syndrome called Cri du Chat Syndrome (CdCS). It causes severe difficulty with swallowing, speech, motor skills, and cognitive deficiencies. These arise from characteristic laryngeal abnormalities and oral-motor dysfunctions.

Exploring Digital Stress of Finnish Adolescents and Their Parents.

Background/objectives: The way people communicate has significantly changed due to technological advances and penetration of cell phones and broadband connection into everyday activities. Nowadays, individuals are constantly connected through the Internet. This influences social experiences, self and social identity, and can cause digital stress, which often leads to negative emotions, psychosomatic outcomes, and diseases.

Investigating the Cytotoxic Effects of Extract on Oral Carcinoma Cell Line.

, commonly known as absinthe, is a perennial plant with distinctive broad ovate pointed leaves of a silvery-gray color, reaching a height of 1.5 m. The utilization of this herb as a source of natural compounds and as the primary ingredient in the alcoholic beverage absinthe has recently seen a resurgence following a period of prohibition.

Women's Empowerment and Health: A Narrative Review.

Empowerment, the process by which a person is enabled to increase control over decisions concerning their life, is a multidimensional construct that has been extensively discussed by various disciplines for more than four decades. Several empowerment models have been presented, based on different approaches. This paper proposes a four-step model, based on individual and contextual awareness and advancement.

Carob Syrup: Prebiotic Potential of a Neglected Functional Beverage of Mediterranean Countries.

Carob syrup, a traditional Mediterranean functional beverage obtained from (L.) pods, has been historically valued for its nutritional properties but is currently underutilized. This study compared the prebiotic potential of three handmade carob syrups produced by Tunisian women with commercial benchmarks from Italy, Greece and Cyprus.

The Use of Explainable Machine Learning for the Prediction of the Quality of Bulk-Tank Milk in Sheep and Goat Farms.

The specific objective of the present study was to develop computational models, by means of which predictions could be performed regarding the quality of the bulk-tank milk in dairy sheep and goat farms. Our hypothesis was that use of specific variables related to the health management applied in the farm can facilitate the development of predictions regarding values related to milk quality, specifically for fat content, protein content, fat and protein content combined, somatic cell counts, and total bacterial counts. Bulk-tank milk from 325 sheep and 119 goat farms was collected and evaluated by established techniques for analysis of fat and protein content, for somatic cell counting, and for total bacterial counting.

From Cure to Prevention: Doxycycline's Potential in Prophylaxis for Sexually Transmitted Infections.

Over the past two decades, the global incidence of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) such as gonorrhea, chlamydia, and syphilis have increased significantly, particularly among cisgender men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender women (TGW). This rise in STIs has spurred interest in new preventive measures, including doxycycline post-exposure prophylaxis (DoxyPEP). Clinical trials in the United States and France have demonstrated the effectiveness of DoxyPEP in reducing both chlamydia and syphilis incidence among MSM and TGW; although, its efficacy against gonorrhea remains limited, and it was further found to be ineffective among cisgender women in Kenya.

The Posterior Dominant Rhythm Remains Within Normal Limits in the Microgravity Environment.

Background: Electroencephalogram (EEG) biomarkers with adequate sensitivity and specificity to reflect the brain's health status can become indispensable for health monitoring during prolonged missions in space. The objective of our study was to assess whether the basic features of the posterior dominant rhythm (PDR) change under microgravity conditions compared to earth-based scalp EEG recordings.

Methods: Three crew members during the 16-day AXIOM-1 mission to the International Space Station (ISS), underwent scalp EEG recordings before, during, and after the mission by means of a dry-electrode self-donning headgear designed to support long-term EEG recordings in space.

Molecular Profiling of A549 Cell-Derived Exosomes: Proteomic, miRNA, and Interactome Analysis for Identifying Potential Key Regulators in Lung Cancer.

Background/objectives: Exosomes, nano-sized extracellular vesicles released by all cells, play a key role in intercellular communication and carry tumorigenic properties that impact surrounding or distant cells. The complexity of the exosomal molecular interactome and its effects on recipient cells still remain unclear. This study aims to decipher the molecular profile and interactome of lung adenocarcinoma A549 cell-derived exosomes using multi-omics and bioinformatics approaches.

Cognitive Functioning in Children and Young People with Congenital Heart Disease: A Systematic Review of Meta-Analyses.

: Congenital heart disease (CHD) is a prevalent condition affecting young people that often necessitates complex medical interventions. This study aims to provide a synthesis of existing meta-analyses examining the impact of CHD on the cognitive functioning in children and young people; : A comprehensive literature review was conducted, identifying peer-reviewed meta-analyses from 1 January 1976 to 17 December 2024, focusing on the cognitive outcomes of CHD patients aged 0-24 years. Data extraction covered study details, participant demographics, outcomes, and quality assessments.

Knowledge Management and Digital Innovation in Healthcare: A Bibliometric Analysis.

Background/objectives: In recent years, knowledge management and digital innovation have become pivotal in transforming healthcare systems, driving efficiency and enhancing patient outcomes. This study presents a bibliometric analysis of research trends at the intersection of knowledge management and digital innovation in healthcare, examining the scope, impact, and evolution of scholarly work in this domain.

Methods: Using a comprehensive dataset from the Scopus database, we analyzed 419 publications from 1985-2023 to identify influential authors, journal collaborations, and emerging topics and methodologies in the field.

Nonpharmacological Management of Cancer-Related Cachexia: A Systematic Review.

Objectives: Cancer-related cachexia affects approximately 50% to 80% of cancer patients and contributes significantly to cancer-related mortality, accounting for 20% of deaths. This multifactorial syndrome is characterized by systemic inflammation, anorexia, and elevated energy expenditure, leading to severe weight loss and muscle wasting. Understanding the underlying mechanisms is critical for developing effective interventions.

Exploring food safety knowledge and practices in Lebanon.

Background: Lebanon's economic and financial crises have affected the quality-of-life, including food safety and food security.

Aim: To assess food safety knowledge and practices among a sample Lebanese population and the association with the sociodemographic and economic characteristics of participants.

Methods: This cross-sectional study collected data online from 412 Lebanese adults aged ≥ 18 years [mostly female (77.

Effects of miRNAs in inborn error of metabolism and treatment strategies.

Metabolism is the name given to all of the chemical reactions in the cell involving thousands of proteins, including enzymes, receptors, and transporters. Inborn errors of metabolism (IEM) are caused by defects in the production and breakdown of proteins, fats, and carbohydrates. Micro ribonucleic acids (miRNAs) are short non-coding RNA molecules, ⁓19-25 nucleotides long, hairpin-shaped, produced from DNA.

Explainable attention based breast tumor segmentation using a combination of UNet, ResNet, DenseNet, and EfficientNet models.

This study utilizes the Breast Ultrasound Image (BUSI) dataset to present a deep learning technique for breast tumor segmentation based on a modified UNet architecture. To improve segmentation accuracy, the model integrates attention mechanisms, such as the Convolutional Block Attention Module (CBAM) and Non-Local Attention, with advanced encoder architectures, including ResNet, DenseNet, and EfficientNet. These attention mechanisms enable the model to focus more effectively on relevant tumor areas, resulting in significant performance improvements.

Combination of clinical factors predicts successful glucocorticoid withdrawal in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE): results from a multicentre, retrospective cohort study.

Objective: Glucocorticoid (GC) tapering and withdrawal to reduce damage represents a key aspect of the European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology (EULAR) SLE recommendations. However, optimal strategies for relapse-free GC cessation remain ill-defined. We characterised clinical predictors and their combined effect on flares in patients with SLE who discontinued GC.