ITS2 rRNA Gene Sequence-Structure Phylogeny of the Chytridiomycota (Opisthokonta, Fungi).

To date, standard rRNA marker genes have had limited success in resolving the phylogeny of the phylum Chytridiomycota. Whereas the conserved and easily alignable ribosomal small subunit 18S rRNA gene had problems resolving nodes relating orders, the internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) has been claimed to not be alignable for this group of organisms. Although the ITS2 is a fast-evolving locus, its secondary structure is well conserved.

Exploring Physician and Patient Perspectives on Expectations and Role Models Towards Chronic Pain Treatment in General Practice: A Qualitative Cross-Sectional Study.

Approximately 7.4% of the German population matched the criteria of impeding, chronic non-cancer-related pain in 2014. Guidelines emphasize the importance of a holistic treatment approach.

Validation of the Arabic Version of the Maslach Burnout Inventory-HSS Among Tunisian Medical Residents (A-MBI-MR): Factor Structure, Construct Validity, Reliability, and Gender Invariance.

: Burnout is a major problem for physical and mental health of medical residents. The key for maintaining well-being and quality of care of residents is the assessing tool. The study evaluated the psychometric properties of the Arabic version of the Maslach Burnout Inventory Human Services Survey (MBI-HSS) among Tunisian medical residents by assessing its factor structure, construct validity, reliability, and gender invariance.

Pilot Study on the Assessment of Therapeutic Education in Children and Adolescents with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus.

Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) is a chronic metabolic disorder primarily managed through insulin therapy, which is crucial for achieving optimal glycemic control in children and adolescents. Therapeutic education is essential, equipping patients and their families with the knowledge and skills necessary for effective self-management. This familial support plays a critical role in the success of therapy and in fostering an environment conducive to the child's self-management of the condition.

What Is the Current Status of Research on the Impact of Digitalization in Medicine? A Bibliometric Analysis.

This study conducts a bibliometric analysis to map key trends in the digitalization of medicine, a rapidly evolving field that incorporates advancements such as artificial intelligence, telemedicine, and Big Data. The analysis aims to identify the most prolific authors, highly cited works, leading countries, and contributions from research institutions, while also exploring emerging trends through keyword analysis. A dataset comprising 2606 scientific papers was retrieved from the Web of Science database.

Accuracy of Artificial Intelligence Based Chatbots in Analyzing Orthopedic Pathologies: An Experimental Multi-Observer Analysis.

The rapid development of artificial intelligence (AI) is impacting the medical sector by offering new possibilities for faster and more accurate diagnoses. Symptom checker apps show potential for supporting patient decision-making in this regard. Whether the AI-based decision-making of symptom checker apps shows better performance in diagnostic accuracy and urgency assessment compared to physicians remains unclear.

Construction of a Compound Model to Enhance the Accuracy of Hepatic Fat Fraction Estimation with Quantitative Ultrasound.

we evaluated regression models based on quantitative ultrasound (QUS) parameters and compared them with a vendor-provided method for calculating the ultrasound fat fraction (USFF) in metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). We measured the attenuation coefficient (AC) and the backscatter-distribution coefficient (BSC-D) and determined the USFF during a liver ultrasound and calculated the magnetic resonance imaging proton-density fat fraction (MRI-PDFF) and steatosis grade (S0-S4) in a combined retrospective-prospective cohort. We trained multiple models using single or various QUS parameters as independent variables to forecast MRI-PDFF.

A Review of Needle Navigation Technologies in Minimally Invasive Cardiovascular Surgeries-Toward a More Effective and Easy-to-Apply Process.

This review evaluates needle navigation technologies in minimally invasive cardiovascular surgery (MICS), identifying their strengths and limitations and the requirements for an ideal needle navigation system that features optimal guidance and easy adoption in clinical practice. A systematic search of PubMed, Web of Science, and IEEE databases up until June 2024 identified original studies on needle navigation in MICS. Eligible studies were those published within the past decade and that performed MICS requiring needle navigation technologies in adult patients.

In Vivo Confocal Microscopy Findings in Corneal Stromal Dystrophies.

In this study, we aim to evaluate in vivo confocal microscopy (IVCM) findings of corneal stromal dystrophies (CSDs) including granular, macular and lattice corneal dystrophy that can be used for differential diagnosis and monitoring recurrences after surgical interventions. : Patients diagnosed with CSD who were followed-up in the cornea and ocular surface unit were included in this study. IVCM was performed using the Heidelberg Retina Tomograph 3, Rostock Cornea Module (Heidelberg Engineering, Germany) and anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT) imaging was performed using the Spectralis OCT (Heidelberg Engineering, Germany).

Limited Diagnostic Value of miRNAs in Early Trauma-Induced Liver Injury: Only miRNA-122 Emerges as a Late-Phase Marker.

: Liver injury is common after abdominal trauma. However, the established biomarkers of liver injury, such as alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST), lack accuracy. This study investigates whether specific liver-related microRNAs (miRNAs) are released into the circulation in trauma patients with liver injury and whether they can indicate liver damage in the early phase after major trauma.

Comments and Illustrations of the European Federation of Societies for Ultrasound in Medicine Guidelines: Benign Pleura Lesions (Benign Pleura Thickening, Lesions and Masses)-What Can Be Seen on Transthoracic Ultrasound?

Pleural thickening can be the result of inflammation or infection but can also have a neoplastic origin. Depending on the clinical context, a pleural lesion or mass is often initially suspected of malignancy. Benign pleural tumors are rare, and their appearance on ultrasound (US) is also described less frequently than pleural metastases or malignancies.

Erroneous Classification and Coding as a Limitation for Big Data Analyses: Causes and Impacts Illustrated by the Diagnosis of Clavicle Injuries.

: Clavicle injuries are common and seem to be frequently subject to diagnostic misclassification. The accurate identification of clavicle fractures is essential, particularly for registry and Big Data analyses. This study aims to assess the frequency of diagnostic errors in clavicle injury classifications.

Evaluation of Non-Invasive Hemoglobin Monitoring in Perioperative Patients: A Retrospective Study of the Rad-67 (Masimo).

: Hemoglobin (Hb) is a crucial parameter in perioperative care due to its essential role for oxygen transport and tissue oxygenation. Accurate Hb monitoring allows for timely interventions to address perioperative anemia and, thus, prevent morbidity and mortality. Traditional Hb measurements rely on invasive blood sampling, which significantly contributes to iatrogenic anemia and poses discomfort and increased infection risks.

Radiomics for Predicting the Development of Brain Edema from Normal-Appearing Early Brain-CT After Cardiac Arrest and Return of Spontaneous Circulation.

Hypoxic-ischemic brain injury (HIBI) is a feared complication post-cardiac arrest (CA). The timing of brain imaging remains a topic of ongoing debate. Early computed tomography (CT) scans can reveal acute intracranial pathologies but may have limited predictive value due to delayed manifestation of HIBI-related changes.

Changes in Microbial Safety and Quality of High-Pressure Processed Camel Milk.

High-pressure processing (HPP) is used as a non-thermal approach for controlling microbial viability. The purposes of this study were to (i) establish the decimal reduction times (D-values) for pathogenic bacteria during 350 MPa HPP treatment,; (ii) evaluate the impact of 350 MPa HPP on total plate count (TPC), yeasts and molds (YM), and lactic acid bacteria (LAB) in camel milk; (iii) investigate the behavior of several spoilage-causing bacteria during storage at 4 °C and 10 °C for up to 10 d post-HPP treatment; and (iv) assess the effect of HPP on the protein degradation of camel milk. The D-values for , O157:H7, and spp.

Development of Alginate-Chitosan Bioactive Films Containing Essential Oils for Use in Food Packaging.

The effect on the physical, mechanical, and antibacterial properties of films composed of alginate-chitosan with the incorporation of oregano (EOO) or thyme (EOT) essential oils was evaluated. These films showed a thickness between 37.7 and 38.

Comparative Study of Crucial Properties of Packaging Based on Polylactide and Selected Essential Oils.

In order to establish the differences in packaging containing various essential oils, polylactide (PLA)-based polymeric films incorporating poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG), clove (C), grapefruit (G), rosemary (R), and tea tree (T) essential oils were obtained and subsequently analyzed. In addition to examining structure and morphology, the polymer films underwent analyses that are particularly important with regard to contact with food. Mechanical and antioxidant properties, water vapor transmission rate (WVTR), and analysis of barrier properties against ultraviolet (UV) radiation, as well as the migration of ingredients into food simulants such as 10% / solutions of ethanol, 3% / acetic acid solution, and isooctane, were among the critical studies conducted.

Fit for the Future: An Assessment of the Sustainability Parameters of Liquid Dairy Product Packaging in the DACH Region and the Implications of Upcoming Regulatory Changes.

The European Union aims for climate neutrality by 2050 and has proposed the Packaging and Packing Waste Regulation (PPWR) to promote a circular economy, focusing on reducing packaging waste. In this context, a comprehensive sustainability assessment for liquid dairy product packaging, including beverage cartons, bottles and to-go cups, in the DACH region (Germany, Austria and Switzerland) was conducted. The aim was to consider various ecological aspects of environmental impacts and circularity.

Prediction of pathological complete response after neoadjuvant chemotherapy for HER2-negative breast cancer patients with routine immunohistochemical markers.

Background: Pathological complete response (pCR) is an established surrogate marker for prognosis in patients with breast cancer (BC) after neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Individualized pCR prediction based on clinical information available at biopsy, particularly immunohistochemical (IHC) markers, may help identify patients who could benefit from preoperative chemotherapy.

Methods: Data from patients with HER2-negative BC who underwent neoadjuvant chemotherapy from 2002 to 2020 (n = 1166) were used to develop multivariable prediction models to estimate the probability of pCR (pCR-prob).

Parental perception of treatment options for mucopolysaccharidosis: a survey to bridge the gap for personalized medicine.

Background: Mucopolysaccharidosis (MPS) are a group of lysosomal storage diseases with substantial unmet medical needs-for both patients and caregivers. Approved therapies are limited, and the perception of investigative ones remains enigmatic.

Method: Using an innovative survey concept based on the discrete choice experiment method (DEC) with neuronopathic and non-neuronopathic patient scenarios, we aimed to evaluate how parents of children with MPS perceive different approved and innovative therapies.

Biomechanical models in the lower-limb exoskeletons development: a review.

Lower limb exoskeletons serve multiple purposes, like supporting and augmenting movement. Biomechanical models are practical tools to understand human movement, and motor control. This paper provides an overview of these models and a comprehensive review of the current applications of them in assistive device development.

Automated AI-based image analysis for quantification and prediction of interstitial lung disease in systemic sclerosis patients.

Background: Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a rare connective tissue disease associated with rapidly evolving interstitial lung disease (ILD), driving its mortality. Specific imaging-based biomarkers associated with the evolution of lung disease are needed to help predict and quantify ILD.

Methods: We evaluated the potential of an automated ILD quantification system (icolung) from chest CT scans, to help in quantification and prediction of ILD progression in SSc-ILD.