Characterization of quality parameters and phytosterol content in oils and their formulated margarines.

Unlike lipid stability and oxidation studies in commonly used edible oils and margarines, margarines formulated with unconventional oils are not well characterized. This study investigated the effect of heat treatment (HT) on the stability and content of phytosterol in njangsa seed oil (NSO), bush mango oil (BMO), soybean oil (SBO), coconut oil (CCO), and margarines formulated from their blends: BN (BMO and NSO), BS (BMO and SBO), CN (CCO and NSO), CS (CCO and SBO), and commercial margarines (CM1 and CM2). Both oils and margarines were heat-treated at 130, 170, and 210°C for 10, 15, 20, and 120 min (only oils).

Identification of putative volatile biomarkers of canine leishmaniasis in dog's breath and hair employing a novel algorithm for automated chromatographic peak detection and matching.

The analysis of the volatile compounds released by biological samples represents a promising approach for the non-invasive diagnosis of a disease. The present study, focused on a population of dogs infected with canine leishmaniasis, aimed to decipher the volatolomic profile associated with this disease in dogs, which represent the main animal reservoir for Leishmania pathogen transmission to humans. The volatiles emitted by the breath and hair of dogs were analysed employing the gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) technique.

Prescribing beyond borders: Navigating challenges and opportunities in cross-border ePrescriptions for enhanced medication access and safety.

Background: The European cross-border electronic prescription (CBeP) was first introduced in Estonia and Finland. The CBeP service is gradually being implemented across Europe, prompting a need for practical studies to assess its benefits and potential shortcomings.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate Estonian and Finnish pharmacists' experiences with patient identification, personal data protection and safe use of medications with CBeP, as well as main advantages and areas of development of CBeP.

An update on access to novel treatment for metastatic melanoma in Europe - A 2024 survey of the European melanoma registry and the European association of dermato-oncology.

Advances in cancer treatments have significantly improved their effectiveness, yet access to first-line therapies remains limited. A 2017 survey revealed that over 25 % of metastatic melanoma patients in Europe lacked access to recommended therapies. To address this, the European Association of Dermato-Oncology and the European Melanoma Registry conducted a follow-up study on the registration and reimbursement of first-line treatments.

Genetic vulnerability and adverse mental health outcomes following mild traumatic brain injury: a meta-analysis of CENTER-TBI and TRACK-TBI cohorts.

Background: Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression are common after mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI), but their biological drivers are uncertain. We therefore explored whether polygenic risk scores (PRS) derived for PTSD and major depressive disorder (MDD) are associated with the development of cognate TBI-related phenotypes.

Methods: Meta-analyses were conducted using data from two multicenter, prospective observational cohort studies of patients with mTBI: the CENTER-TBI study (ClinicalTrials.

Global prevalence, resistance rates, and underlying resistance mechanisms of clinical Mycoplasma and Ureaplasma species.

Mycoplasmas are significant pathogens in human health, implicated in a range of clinical conditions from respiratory infections to urogenital disorders. Their resistance to commonly used antibiotics poses a substantial challenge to treatment and control. This study aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the global distribution of clinical mycoplasmas, elucidate their resistance to various antibiotics, and identify the genetic and molecular mechanisms underlying their resistance.

Temporal dynamics of soil microbial C and N cycles with GHG fluxes in the transition from tropical peatland forest to oil palm plantation.

Tropical peatlands significantly influence local and global carbon and nitrogen cycles, yet they face growing pressure from anthropogenic activities. Land use changes, such as peatland forests conversion to oil palm plantations, affect the soil microbiome and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. However, the temporal dynamics of microbial community changes and their role as GHG indicators are not well understood.

StarPhase: Comprehensive Phase-Aware Pharmacogenomic Diplotyper for Long-Read Sequencing Data.

Pharmacogenomics is central to precision medicine, informing medication safety and efficacy. Pharmacogenomic diplotyping of complex genes requires full-length DNA sequences and detection of structural rearrangements. We introduce StarPhase, a tool that leverages PacBio HiFi sequence data to diplotype 21 CPIC Level A pharmacogenes and provides detailed haplotypes and supporting visualizations for , , and .

Exploring frameworks for quantitative risk assessment of antimicrobial resistance along the food chain.

is one of the most reported causes of bacterial gastroenteritis worldwide. Birds are the predominant reservoirs for thermotolerant , therefore consumption of contaminated and undercooked poultry products represents one of the major transmission routes for campylobacteriosis. In addition to foodborne diseases, another relevant public challenge is the silent pandemic of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), impacting also the food chain.

The effect of commonly employed forensic DNA extraction protocols on ssDNA/dsDNA proportion and DNA integrity.

The utilisation of massively parallel sequencing (MPS) in forensic DNA analysis is on the rise, driven by the expansion of targeted MPS panels in the market and the introduction of forensic investigative genetic genealogy. The MPS library preparation process, integral to both whole-genome sequencing (WGS) and targeted MPS panel data generation, is largely based on converting double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) into sequencing libraries. In the current study, we examined the effect of seven routinely used forensic DNA extraction methods on the strandedness (single-stranded or double-stranded) and the fragment size of the DNA extracted from buccal swab, blood, bone and tooth samples.

Dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 lineages in children and adults in 2021 and 2022.

Purpose: We aimed to describe SARS-CoV-2 lineages and diversity in children and adults in Estonia and similarity to travel-related cases and neighbouring countries.

Methods: SARS-CoV-2 sequences in 2021-2022 from a nationwide study were included. The proportion of predominant lineages in Estonian regions and among travel-related cases was described by multinomial logistic regression.

Comparative assessment of airborne infection risk tools in enclosed spaces: Implications for disease control.

The COVID-19 pandemic, caused by SARS-CoV-2, highlighted the importance of understanding transmission modes and implementing effective mitigation strategies. Recognizing airborne transmission as a primary route has reshaped public health measures, emphasizing the need to optimize indoor environments to reduce risks. Numerous tools have emerged to assess airborne infection risks in enclosed spaces, providing valuable resources for public health authorities, researchers, and the general public.

Moth flies (Diptera, Psychodidae) of Estonia.

A fundamental prerequisite for understanding and protecting biodiversity is the construction of a high-quality faunal database. The primary objective of this study was to address knowledge gaps in the biodiversity of the family Psychodidae in Estonia. Faunistic data on 45 species of moth flies (Diptera: Psychodidae) from Estonia are presented, including 30 new country-records.

Tourist perceptions, motivations and expectations when interacting with African lion () cubs.

Tourism wildlife interactions are controversial, the debate hinging largely on the compromised welfare of the animals used. Despite this, lion cub () interactions are popular, and there is a need to understand what motivates interactors to participate in the activity, their perceptions and expectations. We surveyed the attitudes of 300 visitors to three lion cub interaction facilities in South Africa.

Personality associations with online vs. offline social capital and well-being variables.

Social capital is an important construct in diverse scientific disciplines for understanding health promotion, entrepreneurship, and economic growth. In an increasingly digitalized world, social capital can be established and used in both online and offline contexts. Previous research suggests that personality might be relevant to an understanding of individual differences in social capital.

Microbiome selection and evolution within wild and domesticated plants.

Microbes are ubiquitously found across plant surfaces and even within their cells, forming the plant microbiome. Many of these microbes contribute to the functioning of the host and consequently affect its fitness. Therefore, in many contexts, including microbiome effects enables a better understanding of the phenotype of the plant rather than considering the genome alone.

How does air quality reflect the land cover changes: remote sensing approach using Sentinel data.

Significant environmental challenges, such as urban and industrial expansion, alongside vegetation preservation, directly influence the concentrations of critical air pollutants and greenhouse gases in cities and their surroundings. The urban development and expansion process is aptly captured by classifying land use and land cover (LULC). We aimed to analyze LULC changes in an Andean area, Ecuador, and to reveal the relations of LULC classes with three air pollutants ozone ( ), nitrogen dioxide ( ), and sulfur dioxide ( ), using remote sensing datasets (Sentinel-5P - Sentinel 1 - Sentinel-2) across different periods.

Can triad forestry reconcile Europe's biodiversity and forestry strategies? A critical evaluation of forest zoning.

Balancing increasing demand for wood products while also maintaining forest biodiversity is a paramount challenge. Europe's Biodiversity and Forest Strategies for 2030 attempt to address this challenge. Together, they call for strict protection of 10% of land area, including all primary and old growth forests, increasing use of ecological forestry, and less reliance on monocultural plantations.

The hidden impact of GLP-1 receptor agonists on endometrial receptivity and implantation.

Increasing infertility rates represent a growing medical challenge in modern societies resulting from a complex interplay of sociocultural trends, lifestyle factors, exposure to environmental toxins, and underlying health problems. Women's fertility is particularly vulnerable to these shifts. The obesogenic lifestyle not only accelerates weight gain, but also disrupts ovulation driving the rise in infertility.

Validation of the European Oncology toolkit for the self-assessment of Quality of Life (EUonQoL-Kit) in cancer patients and survivors: study protocol of a pan European survey.

Background: European cancer programmes and policies lack a unified health-related quality of life (HRQoL) assessment tool. The European oncology quality of life toolkit (EUonQoL-Kit) is a novel set of HRQoL questionnaires, co-designed with cancer patients and survivors, translated and culturally adapted into 31 European languages, and with both static and dynamic electronic administration modes. The main aim of this study is the psychometric assessment of the static version.

Core outcome set of daily monitoring of gastrointestinal function in adult critically ill patients: a modified Delphi consensus process (COSMOGI).

Purpose: Gastrointestinal (GI) dysfunction is common in critically ill patients and associated with poor outcomes. There is a lack of standardised methods for daily monitoring of GI function. COSMOGI aimed to develop a Core Outcome Set (COS) for daily monitoring of GI function to improve consistency and comparability in future studies in critically ill patients.

Benefits and challenges of the integration of haptics-enhanced virtual reality training within dental curricula.

Background: Haptics-enhanced virtual reality (VR-haptic) simulation in dental education has evolved considerably during the past decade, representing a promising resource of simulation-based training opportunities to support conventional practice. We aim to summarize current literature on the applications of VR-haptics in learning, practicing, and teaching dental education.

Methods: A literature search was performed using PubMed, focusing on research articles published between January 2010 and January 2024.