Toward Automated Preprocessing of Untargeted LC-MS-Based Metabolomics Feature Lists from Human Biofluids.

Maximizing the extraction of true, high-quality, nonredundant features from biofluids analyzed via LC-MS systems is challenging. Here, the R packages IPO and AutoTuner were used to optimize XCMS parameter settings for the retrieval of metabolite or lipid features in both ionization modes from either faecal or urine samples from two cohorts ( = 621). The feature lists obtained were compared with those where the parameter values were selected manually.

A comparison of immersion-based and spray-based crate washing systems on the impact of spp. reduction.

1.During transport of broilers from farms to slaughterhouses, the interior of crates may become contaminated with faeces. When these crates are not cleaned and disinfected adequately, they pose a potential risk for the dissemination of pathogens, including spp.

"It was a foregone conclusion": a qualitative study of women's experiences and meaning-making of later-in-life abortion in Belgium.

Abortion is an indispensable healthcare service for women of all reproductive ages. Research on abortion is often focused on younger women, neglecting those who are closer to the end of their reproductive lifespan. This study presents findings from qualitative interviews with Belgian women who had an abortion at the age of 40 or older, conducted between May 2022 and April 2023.

A deep learning approach to perform defect classification of freeze-dried product.

Cosmetic inspection of freeze-dried products is an important part of the post-manufacturing quality control process. Traditionally done by human visual inspection, this method poses typical challenges and shortcomings that can be addressed with innovative techniques. While many cosmetic defects can occur, some are considered more critical than others as they can be harmful to the patient or affect the drug's efficacy.

The well-being of polish general practitioners during the COVID-19 pandemic-cross-sectional questionnaire-based study.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has caused psychological distress to the population and healthcare workers. Physicians' well-being is essential and contributes significantly to overall health. This study aimed to assess the strain on Polish general practitioners from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and to ascertain the potential predictors of their distress.

Intranasal exposure to commensal bacterium Rothia mucilaginosa protects against influenza A virus infection.

The respiratory tract hosts a diverse microbial community whose composition varies with anatomical location and throughout life. Rothia mucilaginosa, a common commensal of the upper respiratory tract and oral cavity, has recently been recognized for its ability to inhibit bacteria-triggered pro-inflammatory responses. However, its role in modulating the immune response to viral infections such as influenza A virus (IAV) pneumonia, remains unknown.

Comparative photocatalytic degradation of cationic rhodamine B and anionic bromocresol green using reduced ZnO: A detailed kinetic modeling approach.

The photocatalytic degradation of rhodamine B (RhB), a cationic dye, and bromocresol green (BCG), an anionic dye, was investigated using oxygen vacancy-enriched ZnO as the catalyst. These dyes were selected due to their differing charges and molecular structures, allowing for a deeper exploration of how these characteristics impact the degradation process. The catalyst was prepared by reducing ZnO with 10% H/Ar gas at 500°C, and the introduction of oxygen vacancies was confirmed using various characterization techniques.

High-throughput screening of acetogenic strains for growth and metabolite profiles on readily available biomass.

Abundant biomass, including industrial waste streams and second-generation (2G) and third-generation (3G) feedstocks, offers significant potential for sustainable bioconversion, nevertheless challenges such as fermentation inhibitors, CO losses and substrate selectivity of traditional microbial hosts hinder process efficiency. In this study, we address these challenges by exploring acetogenic bacteria as alternative microbial hosts. Using a newly established high-throughput method, acetogens were evaluated for their capacity to hydrolyse and metabolise variety of substrates derived from 2G and 3G feedstocks and industrial waste streams.

MAP Kinase Signaling at the Crossroads of Inflammasome Activation.

Inflammasomes are crucial mediators of both antimicrobial host defense and inflammatory pathology, requiring stringent regulation at multiple levels. This review explores the pivotal role of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling in modulating inflammasome activation through various regulatory mechanisms. We detail recent advances in understanding MAPK-mediated regulation of NLRP3 inflammasome priming, licensing and activation, with emphasis on MAPK-induced activator protein-1 (AP-1) signaling in NLRP3 priming, ERK1 and JNK in NLRP3 licensing, and TAK1 in connecting death receptor signaling to NLRP3 inflammasome activation.

LC-HRMS screening procedure for the detection of 11 different classes of prohibited substances in dried urine spots for doping control purposes.

Dried urine spots have recently been proposed as an alternative matrix in the anti-doping field. Drying urine may open the opportunity to limit microbial and thermal degradation of the prohibited substances during transportation to the anti-doping laboratories without the need for refrigeration or freezing. In this study, a multi-targeted initial testing procedure was developed for the determination of 237 prohibited drugs/metabolites from 11 different classes in dried urine spots.

Synaptic Vesicle glycoprotein 2A knockout in parvalbumin and somatostatin interneurons drives seizures in the postnatal mouse brain.

Synaptic vesicle glycoprotein 2A (SV2A) is a presynaptic protein targeted by the antiseizure drug levetiracetam. One or more of the three SV2 genes is expressed in all neurons and is essential to normal neurotransmission. Loss of SV2A results in a seizure phenotype in mice and mutations in humans are also linked to congential seizures.

Prediction of Retention Indices in LC-HRMS for Enhanced Structural Identification of Organic Micropollutants in Water: Selectivity-Based Filtration.

Addressing the global challenge of ensuring access to safe drinking water, especially in developing countries, demands cost-effective, eco-friendly, and readily available technologies. The persistence, toxicity, and bioaccumulation potential of organic pollutants arising from various human activities pose substantial hurdles. While high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with high-resolution mass spectrometry (HPLC-HRMS) is a widely utilized technique for identifying pollutants in water, the multitude of structures for a single elemental composition complicates structural identification.

Speed-dependent changes in the arm swing during independent walking in individuals after stroke.

Background: Increasing one's walking speed is an important goal in post-stroke gait rehabilitation. Insufficient arm swing in people post-stroke might limit their ability to propel the body forward and increase walking speed.

Purpose: To investigate the speed-dependent changes (and their contributing factors) in the arm swing of persons post-stroke.

Patterns of osteoarthritis of the wrist: a single-centre observational cohort study.

This study describes the patterns and prevalence of advanced osteoarthritis of the wrist. Bilateral wrist radiographs of 1327 patients over the age of 40 years were reviewed. Osteoarthritis was present in 228 (17%) patients (368 wrists).

Analysis of Changes in Home- and Community-Based Service Utilisation Among Chinese Older Adults: A National Cohort Study.

Aim: To explore changes in home- and community-based service utilisation and its associated factors among Chinese older adults between 2016 and 2018.

Design: A national cohort study.

Methods: This study included 6924 older adults from the China Longitudinal Aging Social Survey 2016 and 2018 waves, examining the changes in service utilisation among four groups: continuous users, former users, new users and nonusers.

Integrative Assessment of Total and Intact HIV-1 Reservoir by a 5-Region Multiplexed Rainbow DNA Digital PCR Assay.

Background: Persistent latent reservoirs of intact HIV-1 proviruses, capable of rebounding despite suppressive antiretroviral therapy (ART), hinder efforts towards an HIV-1 cure. Hence, assays specifically quantifying intact proviruses are crucial to assess the impact of curative interventions. Two recent assays have been utilized in clinical trials: intact proviral DNA assay (IPDA) and quadruplex quantitative PCR (Q4PCR).

Does rehabilitation improve work participation in patients with chronic spinal pain after spinal surgery: a systematic review.

Objective: Patients with therapy-refractory chronic spinal pain after spinal surgery experience increased disability, resulting in substantial loss of employment and consequently lower quality of life. Despite findings that rehabilitation improves socio-economic outcomes in other chronic pain conditions, evidence for patients with chronic spinal pain after spinal surgery is limited. A systematic review was conducted to provide an overview of rehabilitation interventions and their effectiveness to improve work participation for patients with chronic spinal pain after spinal surgery.

Prevalence of work-related musculoskeletal disorder and ergonomic risk practice among medical laboratory professionals at health facilities of eastern Ethiopia.

Background: Musculoskeletal disorders represent a significant occupational problem due to poor ergonomic workstations among medical laboratory professionals; however, there is limited information regarding ergonomic-related musculoskeletal disorders among laboratory personnel in Ethiopia, particularly in eastern Ethiopia.

Methods: An institutional-based cross-sectional study design was implemented among 241 Medical Laboratory Professionals (MLPs) from December 20, 2023, to January 20, 2024. A standardized questionnaire adapted from the Nordic musculoskeletal questionnaire and a combination of self-administered surveys and direct observational techniques was used for data collection.

Challenges in assessing national radiotherapy costs: application of the ESTRO-HERO model in Spain.

Background And Purpose: The aim was to estimate the cost of the external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) in public health care centers in Catalonia (Spain), according to the ESTRO-HERO costing model for 2018.

Materials And Methods: Personnel, equipment, and activity data from 2018 from the 11 RT centers were used, incorporating European mean values adapted to the Catalan context. Secondly, EBRT costs were estimated, incorporating 2023 fractionation technique and scheme usage percentages.

Generalizing the intention-to-treat effect of an active control from historical placebo-controlled trials: A case study of the efficacy of daily oral TDF/FTC in the HPTN 084 study.

In many clinical settings, an active-controlled trial design (e.g., a non-inferiority or superiority design) is often used to compare an experimental medicine to an active control (e.

Informal caregiving and mental health: results from the Belgian health interview survey 2013 and 2018.

Background: Due to a globally ageing population, the demand for informal caregivers is increasing. This study investigates the socio-demographic profile of informal caregivers in Belgium and assesses the relationship between informal care (intensity and care recipients) and mental health, considering potential moderators like education, age, and gender.

Methods: Using population-based data from the 2013 and 2018 waves of the Belgian Health Interview Survey (N = 14,661), we conducted multivariate (multinomial/ordinal) logistic and linear regression analyses to examine the socio-demographic profile of informal caregivers and their psychological distress, measured through the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12).

Metabolomics reveals alterations in gut-derived uremic toxins and tryptophan metabolism in feline chronic kidney disease.

Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) is one of the most common conditions affecting felines, yet the metabolic alterations underlying its pathophysiology remain poorly understood, hindering progress in identifying biomarkers and therapeutic targets. This study aimed to provide a comprehensive view of metabolic changes in feline CKD across conserved biochemical pathways and evaluate their progression throughout the disease continuum. Using a multi-biomatrix high-throughput metabolomics approach, serum and urine samples from CKD-affected cats ( = 94) and healthy controls ( = 84) were analyzed with ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-high-resolution mass spectrometry.