Analysis of seroprevalence and risk factors for syphilis and HIV among female sex workers and transgender individuals in different cities of Sindh, Pakistan.

Introduction: Co-infections of syphilis and HIV have been found to exacerbate the impact on sexual and reproductive health, especially among key population groups such as Female Sex Workers (FSWs) and Transgender Individuals (TGs). The data on the prevalence and determinants of syphilis and HIV in Pakistan, particularly in Sindh province, is limited. This prospective cross-sectional study aimed to determine the seroprevalence and risk factors for HIV and syphilis infections among FSWs and TGs in different cities of Sindh, Pakistan.

Expression of TNF-α, VEGF-A and Microvessel Density in Cerebral Alveolar Echinococcosis and Their Correlation with Perilesional Brain Edema.

Alveolar echinococcosis (AE) is an infrequent zoonosis caused by Echinococcus multilocularis with a high degree of disability and mortality. Metastatic cerebral alveolar echinococcosis (CAE) is very rare and the lesions could lead to severe perilesional brain edema (PLBE) and subsequent uncontrollable intracranial hypertension. In this study, we sought to determine the expression of edema-associated factors in CAE lesions and their associations with PLBE.

Analysis of agricultural land condition in Western Kazakhstan from 1991 to 2023: the impact of climate change.

Kazakhstan's insufficient food production contributes to its dependency on food imports, highlighting the need for science-based technologies to address land degradation and boost domestic production. The privatisation of land and the establishment of a market economy led to the division of collective farms and significant land fragmentation, resulting in a reduction of agricultural land by 10.6 million ha in the West Kazakhstan region, particularly between 1991 and 2000.

Analysis of cases of near misses in obstetric-gynaecological practice.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify and determine the frequency and nature of near misses in pregnant women and in the postpartum period.

Methods: In the Turkestan region (Kazakhstan), a retrospective review of cases of critical situations and cases of maternal mortality that occurred during the 12 months of 2022 was conducted. 201 cases of critical conditions in obstetric-gynaecological practice that occurred in 22 regional institutions of all three levels of perinatal care were analysed.

Doxorubicin-Conjugated Nanoparticles for Potential Use as Drug Delivery Systems.

Doxorubicin (DOX) is one of the most widely used chemotherapy drugs in the treatment of both solid and liquid tumors in patients of all age groups. However, it is likely to produce several side effects that include doxorubicin cardiomyopathy. Nanoparticles (NPs) can offer targeted delivery and release of the drug, potentially increasing treatment efficiency and alleviating side effects.

Mycological Profile and Associated Factors Among Patients with Dermatophytosis in Astana, Kazakhstan.

Dermatophytosis, also known as Tinea infection, remains a significant interdisciplinary concern worldwide. This dermatophyte infection may be more serious in individuals with underlying somatic diseases, immunodeficiencies, endocrine disorders, or chronic illnesses. This study analyzed 313 patients with suspected dermatophytosis.

Isolation, Morphological and Molecular-Phenological Identification of Nematophagous Fungi Inhabiting the Soils of Agricultural Lands in Southern Kazakhstan.

The aim of the present research is the isolation and morphological and molecular-phenological identification of nematophagous fungi of Southern Kazakhstan for the production of effective bionematicides on their basis. Nematophagous fungi, which include nematode-trapping, ovicidal, endoparasitic, toxin-producing, and special substance-producing fungi, are among the most effective biological agents in controlling phytoparasitic nematodes. To isolate and characterize nematophagous fungi, soil samples were collected at 12 sites in three regions of Southern Kazakhstan.

Annotated Checklist of Poroid Hymenochaetoid Fungi in Central Asia: Taxonomic Diversity, Ecological Roles, and Potential Distribution Patterns.

Central Asia, located at the heart of Eurasia, is renowned for its varied climate and vertical vegetative distribution, which support diverse biomes and position it as a global biodiversity hotspot. Despite this ecological richness, Central Asia's fungal diversity, particularly wood-inhabiting macrofungi, remains largely unexplored. This study investigates the diversity, ecological roles, and potential distribution of poroid Hymenochaetoid fungi in the region.

Interfacial modulation and optimization of the electrical properties of ZrGdO composite films prepared using a UVO-assisted sol-gel method.

In this paper, Gd-doped ZrO gate dielectric films and metal-oxide-semiconductor (MOS) capacitors structured as Al/ZrGdO /Si were prepared using an ultraviolet ozone (UVO)-assisted sol-gel method. The effects of heat treatment temperature on the microstructure, chemical bonding state, optical properties, surface morphology and electrical characteristics of the ZrGdO composite films and MOS capacitors were systematically investigated. The crystalline phase of the ZrGdO films appeared only at 600 °C, indicating that Gd doping effectively inhibits the crystallization of ZrO films.

Characteristics of salt dust aerosols and their transport implications in the Aral Sea.

Central Asia is an ecologically fragile arid zone and a typical mixed salt‒sand region. The socioeconomic and ecological problems attributed to the shrinking of the Aral Sea in Central Asia are notable concerns within the international community. In this study, the characteristics of salt dust aerosols from the Aral Sea were analysed to explore their interannual variation characteristics and analyse the spatial and temporal distributions of salt dust sources and transport and dispersion pathways.

Prevalence of resistance-associated substitutions (RAS) in hepatitis C virus in the Former Soviet Union countries.

Objective: The emergence of resistance-associated substitutions (RASs) poses a significant challenge to the effective treatment of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection using direct-acting antivirals. This study's objective was to observe the prevalence of HCV genotypes and RAS within the Former Soviet Union (FSU) countries.

Methods: We analysed 60 NS3, 313 NS5A and 1119 NS5B sequences of HCV deposited in open-access databases from 11 FSU countries for the prevalence of genotypes and the presence of RAS using the Geno2Pheno software.

Therapeutic novelties in acute heart failure and practical perspectives.

Acute Heart Failure (AHF) is a leading cause of death and represents the most frequent cause of unplanned hospital admission in patients older than 65 years. Since the past decade, several randomized clinical trials have highlighted the importance and pivotal role of certain therapeutics, including decongestion by the combination of loop diuretics, the need for rapid goal-directed medical therapies implementation before discharge, risk stratification, and early follow-up after discharge therapies. Cardiogenic shock, defined as sustained hypotension with tissue hypoperfusion due to low cardiac output and congestion, is the most severe form of AHF and mainly occurs after acute myocardial infarction, which can progress to multiple organ failure.

Global burden of pneumoconiosis attributable to occupational particulate matter, gasses, and fumes from 1990~2021 and forecasting the future trends: a population-based study.

Background: This study aimed to quantify the global impact of pneumoconiosis resulting from occupational exposure to particulate matter, gasses, and fumes from 1990 to 2021, utilizing data from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021.

Method: The analysis evaluated the global, regional, and national burden of pneumoconiosis attributable to workplace exposure to particulate matter, gasses, and fumes. It explored variations in disease impact across different demographics, including age and gender, and analyzed the relationship between disease burden and the Socio-Demographic Index (SDI).

A gamma-ray spectrometer based on MAPD-3NM-2 and LaBr(ce) and LSO scintillators for hydrogen detection on planetary surfaces.

The presented work is dedicated to the detection of hydrogen, using detectors based on a MAPD (Micropixel Avalanche Photodiode) array based on new MAPD-3NM-2 type photodiodes and two different scintillators (LaBr(Ce) and LSO(Ce)). The physical parameters of the MAPD photodiode used in the study and the intrinsic background of the scintillators were investigated. For the 2.

Life satisfaction around the world: Measurement invariance of the Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS) across 65 nations, 40 languages, gender identities, and age groups.

The Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS) is a widely used self-report measure of subjective well-being, but studies of its measurement invariance across a large number of nations remain limited. Here, we utilised the Body Image in Nature (BINS) dataset-with data collected between 2020 and 2022 -to assess measurement invariance of the SWLS across 65 nations, 40 languages, gender identities, and age groups (N = 56,968). All participants completed the SWLS under largely uniform conditions.

Molecular characterization and genetic analysis of highly pathogenic H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4b in seagulls from Dukan Lake, Iraq.

Avian influenza virus (AIV) remains a significant global threat, with periodic reemergence in Iraq. This study marks the first molecular characterization of the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 clade 2.3.

Molecular cytogenetic study of the fetal genome in idiopathic recurrent pregnancy loss.

Objective: Despite numerous studies on the causes of recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL), nearly half of cases remain unidentified, which determines the research relevance. This study aims to investigate microchromosomal variations in the fetal genome associated with the development of idiopathic RPL.

Methods: The research was supported by the Centre for Molecular Medicine and the Research Institute of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology and conducted over a period of 2 years.

Risk of Infective Endocarditis Following Invasive Dental Procedures: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Objectives: This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to synthesize evidence and determine the association between IE and dental procedures, including invasive and non-invasive procedures.

Methods: We conducted a systematic search of PubMed, Google Scholar, and Cochrane databases for studies involving procedures such as tooth extraction, scaling, endodontic treatment, oral surgery, and periodontal treatment involving individuals aged ≥15 years. The primary outcome was the incidence of IE following these procedures.

Challenges and opportunities of artificial intelligence in African health space.

The application of artificial intelligence (AI) to healthcare in Africa has the potential to transform productivity, diagnosis, disease surveillance, and resource allocation by improving accuracy and efficiency. However, to fully realize its benefits, it is necessary to consider issues concerning data privacy, equity, infrastructure integration, and ethical policy development. The use of these tools may improve the detection of diseases, the distribution of resources, and the continuity of care.

The neurosociological paradigm of the metaverse.

Metaverse integrates people into the virtual world, and challenges depend on advances in human, technological, and procedural dimensions. Until now, solutions to these challenges have not involved extensive neurosociological research. The study explores the pioneering neurosociological paradigm in metaverse, emphasizing its potential to revolutionize our understanding of social interactions through advanced methodologies such as hyperscanning and interbrain synchrony.

Epidemiology of endometriosis in Kazakhstan: a national population-based cohort analysis (2014-2019) using data from the national electronic healthcare system.

Background: Endometriosis is a condition affecting reproductive-age women and associated with dysmenorrhea, pelvic organs dysfunction, pelvic pain, and infertility. The real epidemiology of endometriosis remains underestimated. No data are available on prevalence of endometriosis in Kazakhstan.

First autochthonous case of Opisthorchis felineus in Austria.

Background: Opisthorchis felineus is a feline pathogen with zoonotic potential that can be a causative agent of human opisthorchiasis and cholangiocarcinoma. In Europe, O. felineus is particularly endemic in Eastern European countries, while this parasite has also been sporadically detected in Germany, Italy and northern Poland.

The window of opportunity: Estimating the role of climate finance on urban-rural electricity inequality.

Access to electricity is vital for enhancing human welfare; however, it is not equally distributed between rural and urban demographics. This paper, for the first time, examine the impact of climate finance on electricity accessibility, and the inequality of electricity accessibility between urban and rural areas. Based on the dataset covering 125 countries during 2002-2020, and by using the instrumental Variables-Generalized Method of Moments model, we mainly arrive at the following conclusions.

Navigating vaccine confidence: A mixed methods study investigating healthcare providers' perspectives across four non-EU European regions.

Background: Vaccine confidence remains a global public health challenge, especially highlighted during the COVID-19 pandemic. Public trust in vaccines is crucial, with healthcare providers (HCPs) playing a pivotal role in navigating this sensitive topic. This requires an understanding of HCPs' perceptions of vaccines.