Dynamic Accommodation Responses in Subjects Wearing Myopia Control Spectacles Modifying Peripheral Refraction.

Purpose: Peripheral optics have been suggested to play a role in myopia progression, with accommodation responses also considered a potential contributor. This study aimed to investigate whether modifications in peripheral optics through different spectacle lenses affect accommodation responses.

Methods: Dynamic accommodation responses were assessed using a double-pass instrument while switching the target from distance (3 m for 3 seconds) to near (0.

Effects of Exercise Training on the Bone Marrow Immune Microenvironment and Minimal Residual Disease in Multiple Myeloma Patients Following First-Line Treatment.

The purpose of the study was to investigate the effects of exercise training on the bone marrow immune microenvironment and on minimal residual disease of multiple myeloma patients who completed first-line induction treatment. Eight multiple myeloma patients underwent 5 months of exercise training along with standard medical treatment. Eight age- and sex-matched patients who received medical treatment only, served as controls.

Overcoming low status or maintaining high status? A multinational examination of the association between socioeconomic status and honour.

We examined the relationship between socioeconomic status (SES) and endorsement of honour. We studied the SES-honour link in 5 studies (N = 13,635) with participants recruited in different world regions (the Mediterranean and MENA, East Asian, South-East Asian, and Anglo-Western regions) using measures that tap into various different facets of honour. Findings from these studies revealed that individuals who subjectively perceived themselves as belonging to a higher (vs.

SMARCB1-deficient malignant melanocytic uveal tumours: a new neural crest-derived tumour entity with SMARCB1-related germline predisposition.

Rhabdoid tumours (RT) are an aggressive malignancy affecting <2-year-old infants, characterised by biallelic loss-of-function alterations in SWI/SNF-related BAF chromatin remodelling complex subunit B1 (SMARCB1) in nearly all cases. Germline SMARCB1 alterations are found in ~30% of patients and define the RT Predisposition Syndrome type 1 (RTPS1). Uveal melanoma (UVM), the most common primary intraocular cancer in adults, does not harbour SMARCB1 alterations.

Different PD-L1 Assays Reveal Distinct Immunobiology and Clinical Outcomes in Urothelial Cancer.

Testing for PD-L1 expression by immunohistochemistry (IHC) is used to predict immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) benefit but has performed inconsistently in urothelial cancer (UC) clinical trials. Different approaches are used for PD-L1 IHC. We analyzed paired PD-L1 IHC data on UC samples using the SP142 and 22C3 assays from the phase 3 IMvigor130 trial and found discordant findings summarized by four phenotypes: PD-L1 positive by both assays (PD-L1 double positive; PD-L1DP), PD-L1 positive by the SP142 assay only (SP142 single positive; SP142SP), PD-L1 positive by the 22C3 assay only (22C3 single positive; 22C3SP), and PD-L1 negative by both assays double negative (PD-L1 double negative; PD-L1DN).

Use of and extracts as alternatives to organic filter in photoprotective formulations.

Recently, the cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries have aimed to reduce the concentration of EU-approved organic filters in their products by incorporating more natural ingredients. The goal is to find effective SPF boosters from plants while maintaining high protection levels and adhering to ecological and public health standards. This study focuses on developing a sunscreen formulation that replaces the organic filter EHMC (2-ethylhexyl-4-meth-oxycinnamate) with extracts from and/or oil.

The Global Secondary Metabolite Regulator Modulates Virulence, Ochratoxin Biosynthesis, and the Mode of Action of Biopesticides and Essential Oils.

is considered one of the main fungi responsible for black and sour rot in grapes, as well as the production of the carcinogenic mycotoxin ochratoxin A. The global regulatory methyltransferase protein controls the production of various secondary metabolites in species, as well as influences sexual and asexual reproduction and morphology. The goal of this study was to investigate the role of the regulatory gene in physiology, virulence, and ochratoxin A (OTA) production by deleting this gene from the genome of a wild-type strain.

Evaluating the Efficacy and Safety of Hepatitis E Vaccination in Reproductive-Age Women: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: Hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection presents a significant health risk in endemic regions, especially for pregnant women, who face higher risks of severe complications, including maternal and fetal mortality. The recombinant HEV vaccine, HEV239, has demonstrated high efficacy in the general population, yet data on its safety and efficacy in women of a childbearing age remain limited. This systematic review and meta-analysis aim to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of HEV239 in this specific population, with a focus on pregnancy-related outcomes.

Rotavirus Vaccination Protects Against Diabetes Mellitus Type 1 in Children in Developed Countries: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

: The etiology of type 1 diabetes (T1D) remains an area of active research, with genetic and environmental factors being investigated. This meta-analysis aimed to determine if rotavirus vaccination influences the onset of T1D in children. : Following PRISMA 2020 guidelines, two researchers independently searched multiple databases, including PubMed and Google Scholar, for studies published in English from 2006 to September 2024.

Poor Nurses' Work Environment Increases Quiet Quitting and Reduces Work Engagement: A Cross-Sectional Study in Greece.

The nursing work environment, encompassing accessible resources and established processes, might affect nurses' professional behavior. Our aim was to examine the effect of nurses' work environments on quiet quitting and work engagement among nurses. We performed a cross-sectional study with nurses in Greece.

Brain Oxygenation During Exercise in Different Types of Chronic Lung Disease: A Narrative Review.

Chronic lung diseases such as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, Interstitial Lung Disease (ILD), and Pulmonary Hypertension (PH) are characterized by progressive symptoms such as dyspnea, fatigue, and muscle weakness, often leading to physical inactivity, and reduced quality of life. Many patients also experience significantly impaired exercise tolerance. While pulmonary, cardiovascular, respiratory, and peripheral muscle dysfunction contribute to exercise limitations, recent evidence suggests that hypoxia and impairments in cerebral oxygenation may also play a role in exercise intolerance.

Compounds of Marine Origin with Possible Applications as Healing Agents.

It is well established that marine organisms consist of a great variety of active compounds that appear exclusively in the marine environment while having the ability to be vastly reproduced, irrespective of the existing conditions. As a result, marine organisms can be used in many scientific fields, including the ones of pharmaceutics, nutrition, and cosmetic science. As for the latter, marine ingredients have been successfully included in cosmetic formulations for many decades, providing numerous benefits for the skin.

Human Fungal Infections: Diagnostic and Therapeutic Challenges.

Fungal infections, either invasive and disseminated or cutaneous and superficial, are an important and increasing cause of morbidity [...

The Role of Rotational Thromboelastometry in Early Detection of the Hemostatic Derangements in Neonates with Systemic Candida Infection.

Background: Systemic infection (SCI) is the third most common cause of late-onset sepsis in Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICU). While platelet involvement in fungal infections has been extensively studied, evaluation of the hemostatic mechanism in Candida infections, especially in neonates, has not been widely investigated. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the hemostatic profile of neonates with SCI through rotational thromboelastometry (ROTEM), a laboratory method that assesses the viscoelastic properties of blood.

LC-MS-Based Global Metabolic Profiles of Alternative Blood Specimens Collected by Microsampling.

Blood microsampling (BμS) has recently emerged as an interesting approach in the analysis of endogenous metabolites but also in metabolomics applications. Their non-invasive way of use and the simplified logistics that they offer renders these technologies highly attractive in large-scale studies, especially the novel quantitative microsampling approaches such as VAMs or qDBS. Herein, we investigate the potential of BµS devices compared to the conventional plasma samples used in global untargeted mass spectrometry-based metabolomics of blood.

Blink Detection Using 3D Convolutional Neural Architectures and Analysis of Accumulated Frame Predictions.

Blink detection is considered a useful indicator both for clinical conditions and drowsiness state. In this work, we propose and compare deep learning architectures for the task of detecting blinks in video frame sequences. The first step is the training and application of an eye detector that extracts the eye regions from each video frame.

Exploring Multi-Pathology Brain Segmentation: From Volume-Based to Component-Based Deep Learning Analysis.

Detection and segmentation of brain abnormalities using Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is an important task that, nowadays, the role of AI algorithms as supporting tools is well established both at the research and clinical-production level. While the performance of the state-of-the-art models is increasing, reaching radiologists and other experts' accuracy levels in many cases, there is still a lot of research needed on the direction of in-depth and transparent evaluation of the correct results and failures, especially in relation to important aspects of the radiological practice: abnormality position, intensity level, and volume. In this work, we focus on the analysis of the segmentation results of a pre-trained U-net model trained and validated on brain MRI examinations containing four different pathologies: Tumors, Strokes, Multiple Sclerosis (MS), and White Matter Hyperintensities (WMH).

Computed Tomography Angiography in the Catheterization Laboratory: A Guide Towards Optimizing Coronary Interventions.

Cardiac computed tomography (CT) has become an essential tool in the pre-procedural planning and optimization of coronary interventions. Its non-invasive nature allows for the detailed visualization of coronary anatomy, including plaque burden, vessel morphology, and the presence of stenosis, aiding in precise decision making for revascularization strategies. Clinicians can assess not only the extent of coronary artery disease but also the functional significance of lesions using techniques like fractional flow reserve (FFR-CT).

Pulmonary Embolism in the Elderly: From Symptoms to Speckle Tracking Echocardiography.

(1) Background: There are little data about the differences in clinical and echocardiographic characteristics between elderly (aged ≥ 65 years) and younger patients with acute pulmonary embolism (PE). (2) Methods: Consecutive patients diagnosed with PE in a tertiary hospital were identified. Clinical characteristics, biomarkers and transthoracic echocardiography indices including right ventricular free wall longitudinal strain (RV-FWLS) were recorded.

Safety and Efficacy in Mitral Regurgitation Management with the MitraClip G4 System: Insights from a Single-Center Study.

Background: Mitral regurgitation (MR) is a common valvular disorder linked to high morbidity and mortality. For patients unsuitable for surgery, transcatheter mitral edge-to-edge repair (TEER) with the MitraClip G4 system offers an alternative. This study aims to evaluate procedural, echocardiographic, functional, and quality of life (QoL) outcomes in patients who underwent TEER with the MitraClip G4 system, along with possible predictors of New York Heart Association (NYHA) class I at 30 days and at 1 year.

A Novel CNN-Based Framework for Alzheimer's Disease Detection Using EEG Spectrogram Representations.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that poses critical challenges in global healthcare due to its increasing prevalence and severity. Diagnosing AD and other dementias, such as frontotemporal dementia (FTD), is slow and resource-intensive, underscoring the need for automated approaches. To address this gap, this study proposes a novel deep learning methodology for EEG classification of AD, FTD, and control (CN) signals.

Expression of Tissue Remodeling- and Inflammation-Related Factors During the Wound-Healing Process in Humans.

: There is a growing interest in the research of wound healing mechanisms worldwide. Particular attention has been paid to the expression of tissue remodeling- and inflammation-related factors. Herein, we investigate the expression patterns of TGF-β1, IL-6, TNF-a, uPA, uPA receptors, MMP-2, and MMP-9 through the four phases of the normal wound-healing process in humans.

Outcomes of Patients with Postoperative Acute Kidney Injury After Acute Type A Aortic Dissection Repair.

: Acute type A aortic dissection (ATAAD) repair is associated with high morbidity postoperatively. The aim of this study is to evaluate the incidence and risk factors for acute kidney injury in patients who underwent ATAAD repair. : Two hundred and twenty-three patients underwent ATAAD repair.