Five-Year Trends in Low-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol Management in a Primary Healthcare Centre in Kaunas.

: Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) is a marker of cardiovascular risk and its management. This study evaluated LDL-C control trends in patients treated at a primary healthcare center in Lithuania. : Five-year (2019-2023) data on patients aged 40 years or older diagnosed with dyslipidemia were extracted from a real-world data and analytics platform, TriNetX.

Long-Term Pulmonary Sequelae and Immunological Markers in Patients Recovering from Severe and Critical COVID-19 Pneumonia: A Comprehensive Follow-Up Study.

: Severe and critical COVID-19 pneumonia can lead to long-term complications, especially affecting pulmonary function and immune health. However, the extent and progression of these complications over time are not well understood. This study aimed to assess lung function, radiological changes, and some immune parameters in survivors of severe and critical COVID-19 up to 12 months after hospital discharge.

Impact of Modified Diet, Swallowing Exercises, and Neuromuscular Electrostimulation on Severity of Oropharyngeal Dysphagia of Geriatric Patients.

: Oropharyngeal dysphagia is a common swallowing disorder, characterized by difficulties in moving food and liquids from the mouth to the esophagus; it is particularly prevalent among older adults with neurological conditions. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a short-term complex treatment protocol combining dietary modifications, swallowing exercises, and transcutaneous neuromuscular electrostimulation in reducing the oropharyngeal dysphagia severity and aspiration risk among geriatric patients. : A total of 64 participants aged 60 and older, with oropharyngeal dysphagia, at LSMU Kaunas Hospital between May 2021 and April 2023, were included in the study after excluding those with significant comorbidities.

The Association of Thyroid Disease with Risk of Dementia and Cognitive Impairment: A Systematic Review.

: Cognitive impairment is defined as a reduced ability to perform one or more cognitive functions, potentially leading to dementia if the condition worsens. With dementia being a rapidly growing public health issue affecting approximately 50 million people worldwide, understanding modifiable risk factors such as thyroid disease is crucial for prevention and early diagnosis. Thyroid hormones play a vital role in brain development and functioning, impacting processes such as neuron growth, myelination, and neurotransmitter synthesis.

A Prospective Study of Nephrocalcinosis in Very Preterm Infants: Incidence, Risk Factors and Vitamin D Intake in the First Month.

: Nephrocalcinosis (NC) is a common condition characterized by the deposition of calcium salts in the kidneys of very preterm infants due to tubular immaturity, intensive treatment and nutritional supplements. However, optimal vitamin D supplementation remains unclear. In most patients, NC spontaneously resolves within the first year of life, but long-term kidney function data are lacking.

Overuse of CT for Minor Head Trauma Patients: A Retrospective Analysis from Poland and Lithuania Trauma Centres.

: Head trauma is one of many conditions that trauma centres deal with daily. This study aimed to analyse the utilisation of head CT scans for patients with minor head trauma in two major hospitals in Lithuania and Poland. : We conducted a retrospective, descriptive study of CT utilisation in minor head trauma patients presenting to the Level 1 trauma centre Hospital of the Lithuanian University of Health Sciences Kaunas Clinics (HLUHS KC) and Jan Biziel University Hospital in Bydgoszcz emergency departments (EDs), during the study period from 01 February to 30 April 2023.

Abstracts of the 16th European Congress of Paediatric and Adolescent Gynaecology .

PAG aims to foster a collaborative environment that bridges knowledge from various disciplines to ensure the highest quality of care for children and adolescents with gynaecological issues. The European Association of PAG and HellenicPAG, like all National PAG Societies, support research and education to advance new insights, improve health outcomes, enhance quality of life, and protect future fertility. Additionally, PAG promotes international cooperation by proposing guidelines for good clinical practice in terms of prevention, diagnosis, procedures, and treatment.

Plasma microRNAs as Biomarkers for Predicting Radiotherapy Treatment-Induced Cardiotoxicity in Lung Cancer.

Lung cancer is the second most common malignancy and stands as a leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Currently, one of the main treatment options for lung cancer is radiotherapy, but this treatment is associated with complications, such as an increased risk of cardiac-related morbidity and mortality. However, currently available methods for predicting radiation-induced heart disease (RIHD) remain suboptimal.

Methuosis, Alkaliptosis, and Oxeiptosis and Their Significance in Anticancer Therapy.

Understanding morphological, biochemical, and functional aspects of cell death is essential for targeting new cancer therapies. Even though many different mechanisms of cell death are identified, it is crucial to highlight the role of new and lesser-known pathways, including methuosis, alkaliptosis, and oxeiptosis. The aim of this review was to summarize the data about cell death mechanisms-methuosis, alkaliptosis, and oxeiptosis-and their role in cancer treatment.

Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Different Types of Professional Tooth Whitening: A Systematic Review.

Background/objectives: Tooth whitening is a cosmetic dental treatment that improves the color of natural teeth, making them whiter and brighter; this review aimed to evaluate the greater effectiveness of in-office, at-home, and combined bleaching with hydrogen or carbamide peroxide, also in relation to possible relapses and side effects (tooth sensitivity).

Methods: A literature search has been carried out through electronic databases, PubMed/MEDLINE, and Cochrane Library, focused on the use of the effectiveness of in-office, at-home, and combined dental bleaching. This review has been registered on PROSPERO (ID613248).

Diagnostic Potential of Cytokine Biomarkers in Endometriosis: Challenges and Insights.

Endometriosis is a common gynecological condition affecting approximately 10% of women of reproductive age, characterized by the abnormal presence of endometrial-like tissue outside the uterus. Although endometriosis was first described over 300 years ago, its underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood, and accurate, prompt diagnosis continues to be challenging. Currently, there is a lack of effective, non-invasive diagnostic methods, and available treatments often come with significant side effects and high recurrence rates.

Serum T2-High Inflammation Mediators in Eosinophilic COPD.

Eosinophils are central inflammatory cells in asthma; however, a portion of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) have blood or sputum eosinophilia, a condition termed eosinophilic COPD (eCOPD), which may contribute to the progression of the disease. We hypothesize that eosinophilic inflammation in eCOPD patients is related to Type 2 (T2)-high inflammation seen in asthma and that serum mediators might help us to identify T2-high inflammation in patients and choose an appropriate personalized treatment strategy. Thus, we aimed to investigate ten serum levels of T2-high inflammation mediators in eCOPD patients and compare them to severe non-allergic eosinophilic asthma (SNEA) patients.

Novel Antimicrobial and Antitumor Agents Bearing Pyridine-1,2,4-triazole-3-thione-hydrazone Scaffold: Synthesis, Biological Evaluation, and Molecular Docking Investigation.

A series of target 4-substituted-5-(2-(pyridine-2-ylamino)ethyl)-2,4-dihydro-3-1,2,4-triazole-3-thiones and their chloro analogs - were synthesized in a reaction of the selected aldehydes with the corresponding 4-amino-1,2,4-triazole-3-thiones and , which were obtained from 3-(pyridin-2-ylamino)propanoic acid () or 3-((5-chloropyridin-2-yl)amino)propanoic acid (), respectively, with thioacetohydrazide. The antibacterial and antifungal activities of the synthesized hydrazones were screened against the bacteria , , and and the fungi and by agar diffusion and serial dilution methods. 4-Amino-5-(2-((5-chloropyridin-2-yl)amino)ethyl)-2,4-dihydro-3-1,2,4-triazole-3-thione () and 4-(benzylideneamino)-5-(2-(pyridin-2-ylamino)ethyl)-2,4-dihydro-3-1,2,4-triazole-3-thione () were identified as exceptionally active (MIC 0.

Exploring the Association Between Adolescents' Health Literacy and Health Behavior by Using the Short Health Literacy (HLS-Q12) Questionnaire.

Background: Health literacy (HL) is an important element of public health that is linked to health behavior in children and adolescents. This study aimed to investigate the structural validity and reliability of the HLS-Q12 in the adolescent population, to measure the general HL of adolescents, and to assess the relationship between adolescents' HL and health behavior.

Methods: This cross-sectional study involved 825 students aged 15-19 years attending Lithuanian gymnasiums.

Sexual Body Size Dimorphism in Small Mammals: A Case Study from Lithuania.

We assessed the sexual size dimorphism (SSD), analyzing standard morphometric traits in juveniles, subadults, and adults, of 14 species of voles, mice, and shrews in Lithuania on the basis of long-term surveys, updating information published 35 years ago and in the context of data from other countries. ANOVA, -tests, and a 5% threshold were used in the analyses. Male-biased SSD was observed in and , which was subject to Rensch's rule, and in three other meadow vole species, with the strongest expression in adult individuals.

Efficacy of natural NF-κB inhibitors in the treatment of fibrosarcoma: an in vitro model study.

Introduction: NF-κB plays a pivotal role in the progression of cancers, including myosarcomas such as fibrosarcoma. Plants possess considerable potential for the provision of chemotherapeutic effects against cancer. The present study assessed, among others, the cytotoxicity, migration capacity and DNA damage induced by several natural compounds (berberine, curcumin, biochanin A, cucurbitacin E (CurE) and phenethyl caffeic acid (CAPE)) in cancer cells (WEHI-164) and normal muscle cells (L6).

Breaking barriers: a commentary on research gaps in cancer and depression among individuals with intellectual disabilities.

The European Commission's Strategy for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities 2021-2030 aims to ensure equal opportunities and rights for all individuals, including those with intellectual disabilities. People with intellectual disabilities are often underrepresented in cancer prevention and screening policies, leading to disparities in health outcomes and early mortality. The intersection of intellectual disability, cancer, and depression represents an underexplored area in healthcare research.

The introduction of the SARS-CoV-2 BA.4 lineage into Pakistan.

Pakistan has experienced a total of six COVID-19 waves throughout the pandemic, each driven by distinct SARS-CoV-2 lineages. This study explores the introduction of Omicron lineage BA.4 into Pakistan, which contributed to the sixth wave between June and September 2022.

Accuracy of digital and conventional implant impressions in edentulous jaws: A clinical comparative study.

Objectives: This clinical study aimed to evaluate the accuracy of digital and conventional implant impressions in a fully edentulous maxilla and mandible.

Methods: A 53-year-old edentulous patient with four maxillary and two mandibular implants was selected. Ten intraoral scans (IOS) and a conventional impression per jaw were taken.

A Core Outcome Set for Adult General ICU Patients.

Objectives: Randomized clinical trials informing clinical practice (e.g., like large, pragmatic, and late-phase trials) should ideally mostly use harmonized outcomes that are important to patients, family members, clinicians, and researchers.

Achievements, priorities and strategies in pediatric nephrology in Europe: need for unifying approaches or acceptance of differences?

Background: There is a lack of information on the current healthcare systems for children with kidney diseases across Europe. The aim of this study was to explore the different national approaches to the organization and delivery of pediatric nephrology services within Europe.

Methods: In 2020, the European society for Paediatric Nephrology (ESPN) conducted a cross-sectional survey to identify the existing pediatric nephrology healthcare systems in 48 European countries covering a population of more than 200 million children.

Supercontinuum generation in scintillator crystals.

We present a comparative experimental study of supercontinuum generation in undoped scintillator crystals: bismuth germanate (BGO), yttrium orthosilicate (YSO), lutetium oxyorthosilicate (LSO), lutetium yttrium oxyorthosilicate (LYSO) and gadolinium gallium garnet (GGG), pumped by 180 fs fundamental harmonic pulses of an amplified Yb:KGW laser. In addition to these materials, experiments in yttrium aluminium garnet (YAG), potassium gadolinium tungstate (KGW) and lithium tantalate (LT) were performed under identical experimental settings (focusing geometry and sample thickness), which served for straightforward comparison of supercontinuum generation performances. The threshold and optimal (that produces optimized red-shifted spectral extent) pump pulse energies for supercontinuum generation were evaluated from detailed measurements of spectral broadening dynamics.

Complex Diophantine interval-valued Pythagorean normal set for decision-making processes.

A novel method for solving the multiple-attribute decision-making problem is proposed using the complex Diophantine interval-valued Pythagorean normal set (CDIVPNS). This study aims to discuss aggregating operations and how they are interpreted. We discuss the concept of CDIVPN weighted averaging (CDIVPNWA), CDIVPN weighted geometric (CDIVPNWG), generalized CDIVPN weighted averaging (CGDIVPNWA) and generalized CGDIVPN weighted geometric (CGDIVPNWG).

Formation of molecularly imprinted polymers: Strategies applied for the removal of protein template (review).

The key step in the entire molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) preparation process is the formation of the complementary cavities in the polymer matrix through the template removal process. The template is removed using chemical treatments, leaving behind selective binding sites for target molecules within the polymer matrix. Other MIP preparation steps include mixing monomers and template molecules in the appropriate solvent(s), monomer-template complex equilibration, and polymerisation of the monomers around the template.

Complex cesarean section: Surgical approach to reduce the risks of intraoperative complications and postpartum hemorrhage.

The incidence of cesarean section is dramatically increasing worldwide, whereas the training opportunities for obstetrician/gynecologists to manage complex cesarean section appear to be decreasing. This may be attributed to changing working hours directives and the increasing use of laparoscopy for gynecological surgical procedures, including in gynecological oncology. Various situations can create surgical difficulties during a cesarean section; however, two of the most frequent are complications from previous cesarean (myometrial defects, with or without placental intrusion and peritoneal adhesions) and the high risk of postpartum hemorrhage (uterine overdistension, abnormal placentation, uterine fibroids).