Ongoing measles outbreak in Romania: Clinical investigation and molecular epidemiology performed on whole genome sequences.

Aim: Romania is currently facing a prolonged measles outbreak. The aim of the study was to analyse the circulating human measles virus (HMV) strains by combining whole genome sequencing (WGS) with phylogenetic analysis, with a focus on the haemagglutinin gene.

Methods: We conducted an observational study in the first five months of 2024, in which 168 patients diagnosed with measles were randomly included.

Modeling of chemo-radiotherapy targeting growing vascular tumors: A continuum-level approach.

The aim of this study is to demonstrate the enhanced efficiency of combined therapeutic strategies for the treatment of growing tumors, based on computational experiments of a continuous-level modeling framework. In particular, the tumor growth is simulated within a host tissue and treated as a multiphase fluid, with each cellular species considered as a distinct fluid phase. Our model integrates the impact of chemical species on tumor dynamics, and we model -through reaction-diffusion equations- the spatio-temporal evolution of oxygen, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and chemotherapeutic agents.

Olive Fruit Phenolic Profiling Using High Resolution-Magic Angle Spinning (HR-MAS) Solid-State NMR Spectroscopy.

High Resolution-Magic Angle Spinning (HR-MAS) solid-state NMR spectroscopy is finding increasing application in the analysis of solid foods, bypassing the need for complicated solvent extraction procedures. In the present protocol, we report a simple analytical approach based on HR-MAS NMR spectroscopy for the phenolic profiling of olive fruits, flesh, or skin. This approach allows the facile characterization of phenolic compounds in olive fruits cultivated for extra-virgin olive oil production as a function of maturation and variety, in addition to processing technology for table olives.

Advanced LC-IMS-MS Protocol for Holistic Metabolite Analysis in Wine and Grape Samples.

The final aim of metabolomics is the comprehensive and holistic study of the metabolome in biological samples. Therefore, the use of instruments that enable the analysis of metabolites belonging to various chemical classes in a wide range of concentrations is essential, without compromising on robustness, resolution, sensitivity, specificity, and metabolite annotation. These characteristics are crucial for the analysis of very complex samples, such as wine, whose metabolome is the result of the sum of metabolites derived from grapes, yeast(s), bacteria(s), and chemical or physical modification during winemaking.

HILIC-MS/MS Multi-targeted Method for Metabolomics Applications.

Metabolomics aims at identification and quantitation of key end point metabolites, basically polar, in order to study changes in biochemical activities in response to pathophysiological stimuli or genetic modifications. Targeted profiling assays enjoying a growing popularity over the last years with LC-MS/MS as a powerful tool for development of such (semi-)quantitative methods for a large number of metabolites. Here we describe a method for absolute quantitation of ca.

Rat Fecal Metabolomics-Based Analysis.

The gut's symbiome, a hidden metabolic organ, has gained scientific interest for its crucial role in human health. Acting as a biochemical factory, the gut microbiome produces numerous small molecules that significantly impact host metabolism. Metabolic profiling facilitates the exploration of its influence on human health and disease through the symbiotic relationship.

Quality Control and Validation Issues in LC-MS-Based Metabolomics.

Metabolic profiling performed using untargeted metabolomics of different, complex biological samples aims to apply agnostic/holistic, hypothesis-free, analysis of the small molecules that are present in the analyzed sample. This approach has been the center of major investments and dedicated efforts from the research community for many years. However, limitations and challenges remain, particularly with regard to the validation and the quality of the obtained results.

Metabolic Profiling: A Perspective on the Current Status, Challenges, and Future Directions.

Metabolic profiling continues to develop, and research is now conducted on this topic globally in hundreds of laboratories, from small groups up to national centers and core facilities. Here we briefly provide a perspective on the current status and challenges facing metabolic phenotyping (metabonomics/metabolomics) and consider future directions for this important area of biomarker and systems biology research.

Successful Achievement of Demanding Outcomes in Upadacitinib-Treated Atopic Dermatitis Patients: A Real-World, 96-Week Single-Centre Study.

Introduction: Results from randomized controlled trials of upadacitinib, a Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitor, have led to its approval for the treatment of moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis (AD) in patients aged ≥ 12 years. The aim of this study was to report the effectiveness and safety of upadacitinib in real-world settings over a period of 96 weeks.

Methods: This retrospective study included all patients treated with upadacitinib at our centre between April 2022 and September 2024.

Differences in technical and clinical perspectives on AI validation in cancer imaging: mind the gap!

Good practices in artificial intelligence (AI) model validation are key for achieving trustworthy AI. Within the cancer imaging domain, attracting the attention of clinical and technical AI enthusiasts, this work discusses current gaps in AI validation strategies, examining existing practices that are common or variable across technical groups (TGs) and clinical groups (CGs). The work is based on a set of structured questions encompassing several AI validation topics, addressed to professionals working in AI for medical imaging.

Body image distress and disordered eating among gay and straight men from Greece and Cyprus.

Sociocultural factors play a significant role in the development of body image distress and disordered eating behavior in diverse populations, including men. One group which seems to be at increased risk, is sexual minority men. However, these factors have rarely been studied outside of Western populations.

Cardiovascular diseases, prevention and management of complications in older adults and frail patients treated for elective or post-traumatic hip orthopaedic interventions.

Due to the aging population, focusing on healthy aging has become a global priority. Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) and frailty, characterized by increased vulnerability to adverse stress and health events, interact synergistically in advanced age. In older adults, hip fractures are a frequent dramatic "life-transition" event.

New-onset refractory status epilepticus after SARS-CoV-2 infection: a review of literature.

Although severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) primarily affects the respiratory system, neurological symptoms were reported both during acute and post-acute COVID-19. Notably, patients with no history of epilepsy or other neurological conditions developed new-onset refractory status epilepticus (NORSE) weeks, months, or even up to a year following the viral infection. While NORSE is uncommon, it carries a high mortality rate and can result in permanent epilepsy.

Simulation of Antral Conditions for Estimating Drug Apparent Equilibrium Solubility after a High-Calorie, High-Fat Meal.

The simulation of antral conditions for estimating drug apparent equilibrium solubility after a high-calorie, high-fat meal is challenging. In this study, (1) we measured the apparent equilibrium solubility of two model lipophilic drugs, ketoconazole and danazol, in antral aspirates collected at various time points after a minced high-calorie, high-fat meal and a glass of water 30 min after initiation of meal administration, and we designated one point estimate for ketoconazole and one point estimate for danazol; (2) we evaluated the usefulness of FeSSGF-V2 and FEDGAS pH = 3 in reproducing the two point estimates; (3) we evaluated potential compositions of FeSSGF-V3 that simulate the pH, the buffer capacity toward both less acidic and more acidic values, and the antral lipid and protein contents with easily accessible, commercially available products, and (4) we identified the most useful composition of FeSSGF-V3 for reproducing the two point estimates. For both model drugs, apparent solubility in FeSSGF-V2 and in FEDGAS pH 3 deviated substantially from the corresponding point estimate.

Differences in splicing factors may predict type 2 diabetes remission in the CORDIOPREV study.

Alternative splicing is a post-transcriptional process resulting in multiple protein isoforms from a single gene. Abnormal splicing may lead to metabolic diseases, including type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). To identify the splicing factor expression that predicts T2DM remission in coronary heart disease (CHD) patients, we identified newly diagnosed T2DM at baseline ( = 190) from the CORDIOPREV study.

Primary-lobe-based trilobed and quadrilobed flaps for reconstruction of nasal tip skin defects.

Background: Despite a variety of principles proposed for drawing trilobed and quadrilobed flaps for the reconstruction of nasal skin defects, the application of these principles in a detailed and reliable way remains questionable.

Methods: We present a novel method for drawing trilobed and quadrilobed flaps to cover nasal tip skin defects. The method is based on the use of templates corresponding to four trilobed flaps with overall angles of 60°, 70°, 80°, and 90°, and two quadrilobed flaps with angles of 90° and 105°.

Cost-effectiveness of follow-up algorithms for chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension in pulmonary embolism survivors.

Introduction: Achieving an early diagnosis of chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) in pulmonary embolism (PE) survivors results in better quality of life and survival. Importantly, dedicated follow-up strategies to achieve an earlier CTEPH diagnosis involve costs that were not explicitly incorporated in the models assessing their cost-effectiveness. We performed an economic evaluation of 11 distinct PE follow-up algorithms to determine which should be preferred.

Advances and challenges in diagnosing and managing adult autoimmune enteropathy.

Autoimmune enteropathy (AIE) is a rare immune mediated disorder primarily affecting children, characterized by chronic diarrhea, malabsorption, vomiting, weight loss and villous atrophy. It has also been observed in adults presenting diagnostic and treatment challenges due to its overlap with other gastrointestinal disorders such as celiac disease. Initial diagnostic criteria for AIE include small bowel villous atrophy, lack of response to dietary restrictions, presence of anti-enterocyte antibodies, and predisposition to autoimmunity without severe immunodeficiency.

High-resolution isotopic data link settlement complexification to infant diets within the Roman Empire.

Our study explores the potential relationship between infant feeding practices and settlement complexity in the Roman Empire through high-resolution Bayesian-modeled stable isotope measurements from incremental dentine. We compiled isotopic data from permanent first molars of individuals from various Roman sites: five from Bainesse (UK), 30 from Thessaloniki (Greece), along with new carbon and nitrogen isotope analyses from four individuals from Pompeii and six from Ostia Via del Mare (AVM). Our results reveal significant inter-site variability in breastfeeding durations, ranging from 1.

Octaethyl vs Tetrabenzo Functionalized Ru Porphyrins on Ag(111): Molecular Conformation, Self-Assembly and Electronic Structure.

Metalloporphyrins on interfaces offer a rich playground for functional materials and hence have been subjected to intense scrutiny over the past decades. As the same porphyrin macrocycle on the same surface may exhibit vastly different physicochemical properties depending on the metal center and its substituents, it is vital to have a thorough structural and chemical characterization of such systems. Here, we explore the distinctions arising from coverage and macrocycle substituents on the closely related ruthenium octaethyl porphyrin and ruthenium tetrabenzo porphyrin on Ag(111).