Gut microbiota and its impact on critical illness.

Purpose Of Review: This narrative review discusses the mechanisms connecting gut dysbiosis to adverse clinical outcomes in critically ill patients and explores potential therapeutic strategies.

Recent Findings: In recent years, the study of microbiota in ICUs has gained attention because of its potential effects on patient outcomes. Critically ill patients often face severe conditions, which can compromise their immune systems and lead to opportunistic infections from bacteria typically harmless to healthy individuals.

Essential Thrombocythemia: A Review.

Importance: Essential thrombocythemia, a clonal myeloproliferative neoplasm with excessive platelet production, is associated with an increased risk of thrombosis and bleeding. The annual incidence rate of essential thrombocythemia in the US is 1.5/100 000 persons.

Masquelet's induced membrane technique in the upper limb: a systematic review of the current outcomes.

Background: The Masquelet induced membrane technique is a surgical procedure that allows the reconstruction of segmental bone defects using a relatively simple approach that requires minimal resources from both the healthcare facility and the patient. Historically applied to the lower limb, this technique is gaining increasing attention in the literature for its use in the upper limb.

Methods: A systematic review of the literature was conducted using the PubMed and Google Scholar databases to identify all studies reporting the outcomes of the Masquelet induced membrane technique in the long bones of the upper limb (humerus, radius, and ulna) with a sample size of at least 3 patients.

Managing soil to support soil biodiversity in protected areas agroecosystems: a comparison between arable lands, olive groves, and vineyards in the Conero Park (Italy).

Sustainable soil management is essential to conserve soil biodiversity and its provision of vital ecosystem services. The EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 highlights the key role of organic farming and land protection in halting biodiversity loss, including edaphic biodiversity. To assess the effectiveness of the proposed measures, a 1-year study was conducted in spring 2022 to determine the soil quality of three organically managed agroecosystems and four sites for each: arable lands, olive groves, and vineyards in the Conero Park, using the arthropod-based Biological Soil Quality Index (QBS-ar) and also considering soil chemical-physical characteristics.

The outcome of early perineal rehabilitation in obstetric anal sphincter injuries: a single-center experience.

Purpose: The objective of this study is to evaluate the impact of pelvic floor physical therapy (PFPT) on symptoms and quality of life in women who experienced third- and fourth-degree perineal tears (Obstetric Anal Sphincter Injuries, OASIS) during childbirth. OASIS can lead to anal incontinence and dyspareunia, having important implications regarding the quality of life and health of women but, unfortunately, there is no standard practice for postpartum care following OASIS.

Methods: In this retrospective observational study, patients diagnosed with OASIS between January 2016 and June 2023 were enrolled.

Evaluation of developmental toxicity of chlorpyrifos through new approach methodologies: a systematic review.

Chlorpyrifos (CPF) is an organophosphorus pesticide of concern because many in vivo animal studies have demonstrated developmental toxicity exerted by this substance; however, despite its widespread use, evidence from epidemiological studies is still limited. In this study, we have collected all the information generated in the twenty-first century on the developmental toxicity of CPF using new approach methodologies. We have critically evaluated and integrated information coming from 70 papers considering human, rodent, avian and fish models.

Evidence synthesis of health policy and systems research in rehabilitation: a protocol for Cochrane overviews of systematic reviews on delivery, governance, financial arrangements, and implementation strategies.

Cochrane Rehabilitation and the World Health Organization (WHO) Rehabilitation Program are collaborating to produce four Cochrane overviews of systematic reviews that synthesize the current evidence from health policy and systems research (HPSR) in rehabilitation. They will focus on the four pillars of HPSR identified by the Cochrane Effective Practice and Organization of Care (EPOC) taxonomy: delivery arrangements, financial arrangements, governance arrangements, and implementation strategies. The protocol describes why HPSR is currently needed in rehabilitation, provides detailed information on the four EPOC pillars in interaction with rehabilitation and reports the Cochrane methods that will be followed to produce the overviews.

Ultrasound tissue characterization and function of Achilles tendon in psoriatic arthritis patients: a cross-sectional study.

Background: The Achilles tendon is one of the most frequent sites of tendinopathy in both healthy and pathological subjects. An innovative approach for the quantitative assessment of the Achilles tendon structure, named Ultrasound Tissue Characterization (UTC), has recently been developed. However, no previous study performed the UTC-based assessment of the tendon structure in rheumatologic patients affected by insertional Achilles tendinopathy.

Exploring van der Waals Cuprate Superconductors Using a Hybrid Microwave Circuit.

The advent of two-dimensional van der Waals materials is a frontier of condensed matter physics and quantum devices. However, characterizing such materials remains challenging due to the limitations of bulk material techniques, necessitating the development of specialized methods. Here, we investigate the superconducting properties of BiSrCaCuO flakes by integrating them with a hybrid superconducting microwave resonator.

Valproate discontinuation in girls and women of childbearing age with epilepsy: An Italian multicenter retrospective study on prescribing patterns and outcomes.

Objective: This study aimed to identify prescribing behaviors in women of childbearing potential (WOCP) with epilepsy already taking valproate (VPA), and to investigate the relationship between VPA maintenance, substitution, reduction, or withdrawal as part of polytherapy, and seizure worsening or relapse.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the prescription behaviors and seizure outcomes in WOCP (16-50 years of age) with epilepsy, referred to eight Italian epilepsy centers, who were taking VPA for at least 1 year between 2014 and 2019.

Results: Among 750 women (~12% of all WOCP), 528 (70.

Photochemical Evolution of Alanine in Association with the Martian Soil Analog Montmorillonite: Insights Derived from Experiments Conducted on the International Space Station.

The (PSS) experiment was part of the European Space Agency's mission and was conducted on the International Space Station from 2014 to 2016. The PSS experiment investigated the properties of montmorillonite clay as a protective shield against degradation of organic compounds that were exposed to elevated levels of ultraviolet (UV) radiation in space. Additionally, we examined the potential for montmorillonite to catalyze UV-induced breakdown of the amino acid alanine and its potential to trap the resulting photochemical byproducts within its interlayers.

Shifting Lithium Amide Reactivity to the Radical Domain: Regioselective Radical C-H Functionalization of 3-Iodooxetane for the Synthesis of 1,5-Dioxaspiro[2.3]hexanes.

Strained spiro-heterocycles (SSH) have gained significant attention within the medicinal chemistry community as promising (sp3)-rich bioisosteres for their aromatic and non-spirocyclic counterparts. We herein report access to an unprecedented spiro-heterocycle - 1,5-dioxaspiro[2.3]hexane.

Leadless Pacemaker Implantation Following Lead Extraction in a Patient With Recent Percutaneous Tricuspid Valve Repair.

This case details the successful implantation of a leadless pacemaker following the extraction of transvenous leads in a 72-year-old female patient with a complex cardiovascular history. The patient had undergone a series of cardiac interventions, including a recent percutaneous tricuspid valve repair with a metal clip implant due to severe regurgitation. After presenting with an infection at the pacemaker site, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus hominis was identified, necessitating the removal of the entire pacing system.

Operationalising a Haemophilia Gene Editing Lexicon for Practical Use.

Introduction: Gene editing therapies offer the possibility of substantial improvement in treatment and quality of life for people with haemophilia (PWH) in a landscape of dynamic therapeutic advancement. Developing a common and understandable language to discuss gene editing will be essential to ensure these treatments can be deployed in a safe and effective manner with fully informed and shared decision-making between healthcare professionals (HCPs) and PWH. A lexicon explaining and clarifying key concepts is one potential tool to address these aims.

Isovalent substitution-induced pseudodoping in ZrxTi1-xSe2 transition metal dichalcogenides.

The crystal and electronic structure of ZrxTi1-xSe2 (0 < x < 1) compounds and their electrical resistivity have been studied in detail for the first time. A combination of soft x-ray spectroscopic methods (XPS, XAS, and ResPES) was used to investigate the electronic structure. The lattice parameters as a function of the metal concentration x obey Vegard's law.

Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors and outcomes in transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy (ATTR-CM) commonly leads to heart failure but has traditionally been an exclusion criterion in randomized clinical trials (RCTs) of sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i); therefore, the effects of these drugs in this population remain undocumented. In light of recent studies, this meta-analysis aimed to investigate the effect of SGLT2i on the prognosis of patients with ATTR-CM.

Methods: A comprehensive search of Medline, Scopus, and the Cochrane Library was conducted up to November 17, 2024.

Phenotypical Characterization of Gastroenterological and Metabolic Manifestations in Patients With Williams-Beuren Syndrome.

Gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms are common in patients with Williams-Beuren syndrome (WBS), but their prevalence and possible causes are not yet fully known. This study assessed GI symptoms' prevalence and their possible origin by performing a predefined set of tests in adult WBS patients. Laboratory tests and a questionnaire were administered to assess GI symptoms and dietary habits.