Relevance of diet in schizophrenia: a review focusing on prenatal nutritional deficiency, obesity, oxidative stress and inflammation.

Background/objectives: Schizophrenia is a complex mental disorder influenced by genetic and environmental factors, including dietary habits. Oxidative stress and inflammation play a crucial role in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. Emerging research suggests that diet may affect schizophrenia through different biological mechanisms beyond oxidative stress and inflammation.

Predictive Value of Inflammatory Biomarkers in Assessing Major Depression in Adults.

There are studies that have investigated the association of pro-inflammatory cytokines with depressive disorders, but they often present certain limitations. In this study, two substantial groups of patients were analyzed: 92 patients with major depressive disorder and 76 without depressive disorders. The strict inclusion and exclusion criteria for the analyzed groups significantly increased the value of the obtained results.

In vitro antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of bioactive compounds extracted from Streptomyces africanus strain E2 isolated from Moroccan soil.

This study aimed to isolate Streptomyces sp. from Moroccan terrestrial ecosystems and identify bioactive compounds through GC-MS analysis. Antimicrobial activity was assessed against various pathogenic microorganisms including Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923, Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853, Escherichia coli ATCC 25922 and Candida albicans ATCC 60193, and multi-drug resistant strains comprising Listeria monocytogenes, Klebsiella pneumoniae 19K 929, Proteus sp.

Investigating the Impact of Nutrition and Oxidative Stress on Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is the most common childhood-onset neurodevelopmental disorder, characterized by difficulty maintaining attention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity. While the cause of this disorder is still unclear, recent studies have stated that heredity is important in the development of ADHD. This is linked to a few comorbidities, including depression, criminal behavior, and anxiety.

Binary and Ternary Inclusion Complexes of Niflumic Acid: Synthesis, Characterization, and Dissolution Profile.

Although niflumic acid (NA) is one of the most used non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, it suffers from poor solubility, low bioavailability, and significant adverse effects. To address these limitations, the complexation of NA with cyclodextrins (CDs) is a promising strategy. However, complexing CDs with low molecular weight drugs like NA can lead to low CE.

Long-Term Oral Administration of Hyperimmune Egg-Based IgY-Rich Formulations Induces Mucosal Immune Response and Systemic Increases of Cytokines Involved in Th2- and Th17-Type Immune Responses in C57BL/6 Mice.

Three hyperimmune egg-based formulations rich in immunoglobulin Y (IgY) were orally administered (daily, for up to 90 days) to C57BL/6 mice that were not microbially challenged. The serum levels of 32 cytokines were quantified every 30 days. Histopathology, hematology, and serum biochemistry investigations were also performed.

Therapeutic Obstinacy in End-of-Life Care-A Perspective of Healthcare Professionals from Romania.

Background: End-of-life care raises ethical, moral, legal and economic dilemmas, especially when physicians have to decide whether to initiate or to stop treatments that may be considered disproportionate and futile.

Aim: To explore the opinion of health care professionals involved in end-of-life patient care on interventions considered disproportionate and futile at this stage of care, the causes and factors of pressure leading to such situations, and possible solutions to reduce the phenomenon.

Material And Method: The study used an adapted, designed questionnaire intended for health professionals caring for patients at the end of life.

Spiritual Care for Cancer Patients at the End-of-Life.

Background: Spiritual care for patients at the end of life is an important element in their holistic care. The aim of this study is to assess the opinions of cancer patients with limited prognosis about the importance of faith in fighting illness and the factors contributing to a better adjustment to illness and to their self-reconciliation and spiritual well-being.

Material And Methods: This study used a specially designed questionnaire for cancer patients with limited prognosis.

Exploring the antimicrobial and antioxidant properties of strain E25-2 isolated from Moroccan forest soil.

The alarming rise in antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has created a significant public health challenge, necessitating the discovery of new therapeutic agents to combat infectious diseases and oxidative stress-related disorders. The strain E25-2, isolated from Moroccan forest soil, represents a potential avenue for such research. This study aimed to identify the isolate E25-2, obtained from soil in a cold Moroccan ecosystem, and further investigate its antimicrobial and antioxidant activities.

A Systematic Review of the Effects of EEG Neurofeedback on Patients with Schizophrenia.

Schizophrenia is a neuropsychiatric disorder affecting approximately 1 in 300 people worldwide. It is characterized by a range of symptoms, including positive symptoms (delusions, hallucinations, and formal thought disorganization), negative symptoms (anhedonia, alogia, avolition, asociality, and blunted affect), and cognitive impairments (impaired memory, attention, executive function, and processing speed). Current treatments, such as psychopharmacology and psychotherapy, often do not fully address these symptoms, leading to impaired everyday functionality.

Experimental Insights on the Use of Secukinumab and Magnolol in Acute Respiratory Diseases in Mice.

This study investigates the combined treatment of secukinumab (SECU) and magnolol (MAGN) in a mouse model of LPS-induced ALI overlapped with allergic pulmonary inflammation, aiming to better understand the mechanism behind this pathology and to assess the therapeutic potential of this novel approach in addressing the severity of ALI. The combined treatment reveals intricate immunomodulatory effects. Both treatments inhibit IL-17 and promote M2 macrophage polarization, which enhances anti-inflammatory cytokine production such as IL-4, IL-5, IL-10, and IL-13, crucial for lung repair and inflammation resolution.

SAFEvR MentalVeRse.app: Development of a Free Immersive Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy for Acrophobia and Claustrophobia.

Specific phobias impact over 400 million people worldwide. Digitalizing mental health could alleviate the burden. Still, although the corporate-driven Metaverse is expanding rapidly, there needs to be more momentum in harnessing virtual reality exposure therapy uptake.

New Chitosan-Based Co-Delivery Nanosystem for Diabetes Mellitus Therapy.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is one of the most common metabolic disorders, with a major involvement of oxidative stress in its onset and progression. Pioglitazone (Pio) is an antidiabetic drug that mainly works by reducing insulin resistance, while curcumin (Cur) is a powerful antioxidant with an important hypoglycemic effect. Both drugs are associated with several drawbacks, such as reduced bioavailability and a short half-life time (Pio), as well as instability and poor water solubility (Cur), which limit their therapeutic use.

Engagement of medication users in the development and implementation of digital medication adherence technologies: a multi-stakeholder study.

Background: This study aims to create a comprehensive framework for the development and implementation of digital medication adherence technologies (DMATech), focusing on critical stages where engagement of medication users (MU) is considered meaningful, i.e. adds significant value, as agreed upon by participating stakeholders.

A New Approach to Postoperative Rehabilitation following Mosaicplasty and Bone Marrow Aspiration Concentrate (BMAC) Augmentation.

Background: Chondral defects in the knee present a significant challenge due to their limited self-healing capacity, often leading to joint degeneration and functional disability. Current treatments, including surgical approaches like mosaicplasty and regenerative therapies such as bone marrow aspirate concentrate (BMAC) augmentation, aim to address these defects and improve patient outcomes.

Materials And Methods: This study conducted a single-center, randomized controlled trial to evaluate the efficacy of different treatment approaches and rehabilitation protocols for chondral defects.

In Vitro and In Vivo Analysis of the Mg-Ca-Zn Biodegradable Alloys.

The objective of this work was to analyze the in vitro and in vivo tests of a novel Mg-based biodegradable alloy-Mg-0.5%Ca-with various amounts of Zn (0.5, 1, 1.

Experimental Study on Rats with Critical-Size Bone Defects Comparing Effects of Autologous Bone Graft, Equine Bone Substitute Bio-Gen Alone or in Association with Platelet-Rich Fibrin (PRF).

Background: A critical-sized bone defect (CsBD) is considered one that will not heal spontaneously and requires reconstruction. This study aims to compare the results of using different bone reconstructive techniques and to study the potential of platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) to enhance the healing properties of a bone substitute (BS).

Methods: In this experimental study on rats, the treatment of critical-sized bone defects was carried out by analysing four groups: a control group in which the bone defect was left empty; a group treated with Bio-Gen; another group in which the defect was treated with PRF in combination with Bio-Gen; and the last that was treated with autologous bone graft (ABG).

Preparation and Characterization of Polymeric Microparticles Based on Poly(ethylene brassylate-co-squaric Acid) Loaded with Norfloxacin.

In recent years, increasing interest has been accorded to polyester-based polymer microstructures, driven by their promising potential as advanced drug delivery systems. This study presents the preparation and characterization of new polymeric microparticles based on poly(ethylene brassylate-co-squaric acid) loaded with norfloxacin, a broad-spectrum antibiotic. Polymacrolactone was synthesised in mild conditions through the emulsion polymerization of bio-based and renewable monomers, ethylene brassylate, and squaric acid.

The Effect of Antipsychotics on Cognition in Schizophrenia-A Current Narrative Review.

The majority of schizophrenia-affected individuals display deficiencies in multiple cognitive domains such as attention, working memory, long-term memory, and learning, deficiencies that are stable throughout the disease. The purpose of this narrative review was to examine the effect of antipsychotics on several cognitive domains affected by schizophrenia. We searched MEDLINE, Elsevier, Scopus, and DOAJ databases for randomized controlled trials and other studies investigating the effects of typical and atypical antipsychotics on cognition in patients with schizophrenia in studies conducted in the last decade.

Cognitive Impairment following Mild Traumatic Brain Injury (mTBI): A Review.

Mild Traumatic Brain Injury (mTBI) has been increasingly recognized as a public health concern due to its prevalence and potential to induce long-term cognitive impairment. We aimed to consolidate this observation by focusing on findings of neuropsychological assessments, neuroimaging, risk factors, and potential strategies for intervention to prevent and treat mTBI-associated cognitive impairments. A thorough search of PubMed, PsycINFO, and Embase databases was performed for studies published until 2024.

Cardiac and Renal Fibrosis, the Silent Killer in the Cardiovascular Continuum: An Up-to-Date.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) and chronic kidney disease (CKD) often coexist and have a major impact on patient prognosis. Organ fibrosis plays a significant role in the pathogenesis of cardio-renal syndrome (CRS), explaining the high incidence of heart failure and sudden cardiac death in these patients. Various mediators and mechanisms have been proposed as contributors to the alteration of fibroblasts and collagen turnover, varying from hemodynamic changes to the activation of the renin-angiotensin system, involvement of FGF 23, and Klotho protein or collagen deposition.

Bioactive Composite Cryogels Based on Poly (Vinyl Alcohol) and a Polymacrolactone as Tissue Engineering Scaffolds: In Vitro and In Vivo Studies.

In light of the increasing resistance of pathogenic microorganisms to the action of antibiotics, essential oils extracted from plants with therapeutic activity provide a significant alternative to obtaining dressings for the treatment of skin wounds. The encapsulation of essential oils in an amphiphilic gel network allows better dispersion and preservation of hydrophobic bioactive substances while promoting their prolonged release. In this study, we focused on the development of a poly (vinyl alcohol) (PVA)/poly (ethylene brassylate-co-squaric acid) (PEBSA) platform embedded with thymol (Thy), and α-tocopherol (α-Tcp) as a co-drug structure with prospective use for the treatment and healing of skin wounds.