Quality of care at childbirth during the COVID-19 pandemic in Belgium: a cross-sectional study based on WHO standards.

Objectives: To examine quality of maternal and newborn care (QMNC) around childbirth in facilities in Belgium during the COVID-19 pandemic and trends over time.

Design: A cross-sectional observational study.

Setting: Data of the Improving MAternal Newborn carE in the EURO region study in Belgium.

Assessing the impact of different donor milk treatments on infant health and growth: a systematic review protocol.

Introduction: Donor human milk (DHM) is the first alternative if mother's own milk is unavailable or contraindicated. Much DHM research has focused on its nutritional, immunological and biochemical composition in response to various maternal variables, standard human milk banking procedures and storage protocols. The current systematic review protocol, however, aims to systematically gather and analyse existing data pertaining to the impact of these aforementioned factors on the clinical, health-related and developmental outcomes observed in infants fed with DHM.

Regular Consumption of Black Tea Kombucha Modulates the Gut Microbiota in Individuals with and Without Obesity.

Background: Kombucha, a fermented beverage obtained from a Symbiotic Culture of Bacteria and Yeast (SCOBY), has shown potential in modulating gut microbiota, although no clinical trials have been done.

Objective: We aimed to evaluate the effects of regular black tea kombucha consumption on intestinal health in individuals with and without obesity.

Methods: A pre-post clinical intervention study was conducted lasting eight weeks.

Chronic spontaneous urticaria remission definition and therapy stepping-down. WAO Position Paper.

Background: There is no global agreement on the definition of Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria (CSU) remission.

Objective: To generate a consensus for clinical definitions in CSU focused on remission.

Methods: The World Allergy Organization (WAO) Urticaria Committee systematically reviewed current available longitudinal articles.

Comparative efficacy and safety of treatment regimens for Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia in people living with HIV - A systematic review and network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Background: Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PCP) is a serious opportunistic infection in people living with HIV (PWH) who have low CD4 counts. Despite its side effects, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX) is currently considered the primary treatment for PCP.

Objectives: To compare the efficacy (treatment-failure and mortality) and tolerability (treatment change) of PCP treatment-regimens with a frequentist network meta-analysis (NMA).

Clinical Spectrum and Prognosis of Atypical Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease Caused by Monoallelic Pathogenic Variants of IFT140.

Rationale & Objective: Monoallelic predicted Loss-of-Function (pLoF) variants in IFT140 have recently been associated with an autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD)-like phenotype. This study sought to enhance the characterization of this phenotype.

Study Design: Case series.

Electromagnetic Radiation and Biophoton Emission in Neuronal Communication and Neurodegenerative Diseases.

The intersection of electromagnetic radiation and neuronal communication, focusing on the potential role of biophoton emission in brain function and neurodegenerative diseases is an emerging research area. Traditionally, it is believed that neurons encode and communicate information via electrochemical impulses, generating electromagnetic fields detectable by EEG and MEG. Recent discoveries indicate that neurons may also emit biophotons, suggesting an additional communication channel alongside the regular synaptic interactions.

Deconstructing delay discounting in human cocaine addiction using computational modelling and neuroimaging.

Background: A preference for sooner-smaller over later-larger rewards, known as delay discounting, is a candidate transdiagnostic marker of waiting impulsivity and a research domain criterion. While abnormal discounting rates have been associated with many psychiatric diagnoses and abnormal brain structure, the underlying neuropsychological processes remain largely unknown. Here, we deconstruct delay discounting into choice and rate processes by testing different computational models and investigate their associations with white matter tracts.

Antegrade femoral puncture Using a Suture-Mediated Closure Device in infrainguinal endovascular interventions.

Introduction: ProGlide is a suture-mediated vascular closure device (VCD) indicated for retrograde access closure at the common femoral artery (CFA). However, its off-label use for antegrade and/or superficial femoral artery (SFA) access has become common in many practices. This study evaluated the efficacy and safety of ProGlide for femoral artery access closure in patients undergoing antegrade infrainguinal endovascular procedures.

The intEgrated multidiscipliNary pathway for large-scale maNagement of dyslipidemiA in high-risk patients (ENNA) project: Rationale and project design.

Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality globally, significantly influenced by modifiable risk factors, particularly hypercholesterolemia. Despite the availability of effective lipid-lowering drugs, achieving the low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) target levels remains a significant challenge in clinical practice, contributing to persistent high rates of cardiovascular events. The intEgrated multidiscipliNary pathway for large-scale maNagement of dyslipidemiA in high-risk patients (ENNA) Project was designed to address the alarming rates of suboptimal lipid management among high and very-high risk patients in the Province of Enna, Sicily.

The multiple facets of ovarian high grade serous carcinoma: a review on morphological, immunohistochemical and molecular features.

High-grade serous ovarian carcinoma (HGSOC) is the most aggressive subtype of epithelial ovarian cancer and a leading cause of mortality among gynecologic malignancies. This review aims to comprehensively analyze the morphological, immunohistochemical, and molecular features of HGSOC, highlighting its pathogenesis and identifying biomarkers with diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic significance. Special emphasis is placed on the role of tumor microenvironment (TME) and genomic instability in shaping the tumor's behavior and therapeutic vulnerabilities.

I-mIBG THERAPY IN RELAPSED/REFRACTORY NEUROBLASTOMA: A WEAPON FROM THE FUTURE PAST.

Neuroblastoma (NB) is the most common extracranial solid tumor in children, with variable outcomes ranging from spontaneous remission to high-risk cases often leading to relapse or refractory disease. Approximately 50% of patients with NB have high-risk features, often experiencing relapse or refractory disease despite intensive treatments and the prognosis remains poor, with long-term event-free survival (EFS) rates below 10%,Radioactive iodine-labeled meta-iodobenzylguanidine (¹³¹I-mIBG) therapy, leveraging NB cells' radiosensitivity and expression of the norepinephrine transporter (NET), has shown promise in treating relapsed or refractory NB. Since 1985, ¹³¹I-mIBG has been studied to determine the maximum tolerated dose and side effects, with recent trials exploring its use in front-line treatment.

Persistence, severity and reactivity thresholds in fish allergic patients sensitized to parvalbumin.

Background: Fish allergy affects children and adults worldwide and there are transient and persistent phenotypes.

Objective: We aimed to analyze persistence, severity and reactivity thresholds in challenge-confirmed fish allergic patients sensitized to parvalbumin.

Methods: Patients 12-65 years-old reporting immediate reactions to fish, with fish skin prick test ≥5 mm and IgE to cod and carp β-parvalbumins ≥0.

Unveiling the self-assembly process of gellan-chitosan complexes through a combination of atomistic simulations and experiments.

Polyelectrolyte complexes (PECs), formed via the self-assembly of oppositely charged polysaccharides, are highly valued for their biocompatibility, biodegradability, and hydrophilicity, offering significant potential for biotechnological applications. However, the complex nature and lack of insight at a molecular level into polyelectrolytes conformation and aggregation often hinders the possibility of achieving an optimal control of PEC systems, limiting their practical applications. To address this problem, an in-depth investigation of PECs microscopic structural organization is required.

Women Upward-Sex Differences in Uphill Performance in Speed Climbing, Ski Mountaineering, Trail Running, Cross-Country Skiing, and Cycling.

Introduction: Women have generally lower body size and lean- to fat-mass ratio, lower maximal anaerobic power due to a lower muscle mass, and fewer fast-twitch fibers, although they can show higher resistance to fatigue or greater metabolic flexibility than men. These factors are well known and explain the sex differences in endurance sports such as distance running (10%-12%). Several of these factors-particularly the differences in body composition and skeletal-muscle characteristics-may directly impact vertical displacement and uphill performance.

Confirmation of the unexpected occurrence of bitterness-inducing cucurbitacins in edible unripe melons by a two-step workflow based on liquid chromatography with combined UV and high-resolution MS detection.

Plant metabolites known as cucurbitacins are known to impart an unpleasant bitter taste to edible fruits and even lead to severe health complications after the ingestion of relatively high amounts. In this study, an analytical method based on reversed phase liquid chromatography with combined detection by UV spectroscopy and atmospheric pressure chemical ionization high-resolution single/tandem mass spectrometry was applied to confirm the occurrence of four cucurbitacins (B, D, and R, and 23,24-dihydro cucurbitacin B) previously inferred in unexpectedly bitter-tasting fruits of an Italian variety (Scopatizzo) of unripe melon (Cucumis melo L.), known for the sweetness of its fruits.

Advanced disconnectomic analyses reveal repetition pathways in a case of mixed transcortical aphasia.

Mixed Transcortical Aphasia (MTA) is an infrequent aphasic syndrome, characterized by poor comprehension and production in oral language abilities and poor performance in written language abilities. However, individuals with MTA typically retain the ability to repeat. Our patient, a woman who suffered from a left hemisphere ischemic stroke involving perisylvian areas, presented with repetition preserved for words, non-words, sentences and numbers, together with marginally preserved reading abilities.

Rheology of dilute and semi-dilute non-Brownian suspensions made of irregular porous particles in a Newtonian fluid.

Hypothesis: The porosity affects the rheological response of porous particle suspensions.

Experiments: Non-Brownian suspensions of porous particles immersed in a Newtonian Polyisobutene are investigated. Three different particles, with different porosity, pore structure and similar size, and non-porous irregular particles are used.

The inhibition of SLC8A1 promotes Ca-dependent cell death in Gastric Cancer.

Intracellular Ca homeostasis dysregulation, through the modulation of calcium permeable ion channels and transporters, is gaining attention in cancer research as an apoptosis evasion mechanism. Recently, we highlighted a prognostic role for several calcium permeable channels. Among them, here, we focused on the plasma membrane bidirectional Na/Ca exchanger SLC8A1.

Indole phytochemical camalexin as a promising scaffold for AcrB efflux pump inhibitors against Escherichia coli.

Escherichia coli is amongst the most frequent causative agent of nosocomial infections and the overexpression of the efflux pump gene acrB plays a major role in its resistance to various antibiotics. In this study, we evaluated two indole phytochemicals, camalexin and brassinin, as potential AcrB efflux pump inhibitors. Among these two phytochemicals, camalexin increased the accumulation of ethidium in acrB proficient E.

Policies and strategies to control antimicrobial resistance in livestock production: A comparative analysis of national action plans in European Union Member States.

Policy strategies targeting imprudent antimicrobial use (AMU) in livestock farming have been established at the global and country levels, recognising the risks associated with antimicrobial resistance (AMR). This study evaluates the strategies addressing AMU and AMR in animal farms and the food supply chain in EU Member States using a multimethod approach. Our aim is to contribute to the debates surrounding the goals set by the EU Commission and the 'Strategic framework for collaboration on antimicrobial resistance: Together for One Health'.

Factor analysis and clustering of motor and psychiatric dimensions in idiopathic blepharospasm.

Introduction: Idiopathic blepharospasm is a clinically heterogeneous form of focal dystonia, also associated with psychiatric symptoms. The identification of the most relevant sets of motor and psychiatric manifestations may help better understand the specific phenomenology of the condition and delineate blepharospasm subtypes more accurately.

Methods: Patients with idiopathic blepharospasm were from the Dystonia Coalition project.

Heeled shoes increase muscle activity during gait in healthy females: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Altered muscle activity during gait can change the function of the musculoskeletal system and increase the risk of injury. This systematic review and meta-analysis study aimed to investigate the effect of wearing heeled shoes during gait on muscle activity.

Research Question: Does wearing different heeled shoes (low: 1.