Composites Based on PLA/PHBV Blends with Nanocrystalline Cellulose NCC: Mechanical and Thermal Investigation.

This study investigates the physical and mechanical properties of biodegradable composites based on PLA/PHBV blends modified with different content of nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC) of 5, 10, and 15 wt.%. Density measurements reveal that the density of the composite increases with increasing NCC content.

Bromelain Supplementation in the Management of Otitis Media with Effusion in Children.

Background/objectives: The respiratory system is prone to infectious diseases, especially in children below five years of age. Upper respiratory tract infections in children are often associated with Eustachian tube dysfunction and complicated by otitis media with effusion (OME), an inflammatory process within the middle ear, which can lead to hearing loss. Treatment for these infections involves a combination of medication and symptom relief, depending on the severity and cause of the infection.

Applying the Surge Capacity Components for Capacity-Building Purposes in the Context of the EMT Initiative.

Background: On 16 January 2021 (EB148/18 Session), the World Health Organization (WHO) and Member States emphasized the importance of expanding the WHO Emergency Medical Teams (EMT) Initiative, investing in a global health workforce and multidisciplinary teams capable of being rapidly deployed, equipped, and fully trained to respond to all-hazard emergencies effectively. This resulted in the need to define a comprehensive framework. To achieve this, the EMT Initiative proposes the application of the four components of Surge Capacity, known as the 4"S" (Staff, Systems, Supplies, and Structure/Space), to build global capacities and capabilities, ensuring rapid mobilization and efficient coordination of national and international medical teams for readiness and response, complying with crisis standards of care defined in an ethical and evidence-based manner.

Genetic Identity and Diversity of Loggerhead Sea Turtles in the Central Mediterranean Sea.

The conservation of loggerhead sea turtles () in the central Mediterranean benefits from an in-depth understanding of its population genetic structure and diversity. This study, therefore, investigates in Maltese waters by genetically analysing 63 specimens collected through strandings and in-water sampling, using mitochondrial DNA control region and microsatellites. Additionally, the two nests detected in Malta in 2023 were analysed for the same markers.

Effect of Ultra-High Pressure Homogenisation (UHPH) on the Co-Inoculation of and in Tempranillo Must.

The utilisation of non- yeasts in co-inoculation and non-thermal technologies for must sterilisation is becoming increasingly prevalent due to their notable utility and potential. This new approach optimises the fermentation process and contributes to facilitating the production of wines with distinctive characteristics, improving their stability, and without organoleptic repercussions. Two trials were conducted concurrently, designated as A and B, using the same Tempranillo red must.

Maternal Low-Protein Diet During Nursing Leads to Glucose-Insulin Dyshomeostasis and Pancreatic-Islet Dysfunction by Disrupting Glucocorticoid Responsiveness in Male Rats.

Both perinatal malnutrition and elevated glucocorticoids are pivotal triggers of the growing global pandemic of metabolic diseases. Here, we studied the effects of metabolic stress responsiveness on glucose-insulin homeostasis and pancreatic-islet function in male Wistar offspring whose mothers underwent protein restriction during lactation. During the first two weeks after delivery, lactating dams were fed a low-protein (4% protein, LP group) or normal-protein diet (22.

Oncologic and pregnancy outcomes of fertility-sparing treatment with medroxyprogesterone acetate in women with premalignant and malignant endometrial lesions: A case series.

Introduction: Current trends of delaying childbearing and the increasing incidence of endometrial cancer in nulliparous woman necessitate research and development of fertility sparing treatments. Hormonal therapy with progestins offers an alternative to surgical treatment for a select group of patients of reproductive-age, who wish to preserve their reproductive potential.

Materials And Methods: The study evaluates the effectiveness of medroxyprogesterone acetate therapy in patients with early-stage endometrial cancer, atypical endometrial hyperplasia or atypical polypoid adenomyoma, seeking to preserve fertility.

Aligning corporate social responsibility with artificial intelligence in healthcare in the context of the post-COVID-19 recovery: a viewpoint.

Purpose: This study explores how corporate social responsibility (CSR) and artificial intelligence (AI) can be combined in the healthcare industry during the post-COVID-19 recovery phase. The aim is to showcase how this fusion can help tackle healthcare inequalities, enhance accessibility and support long-term sustainability.

Design/methodology/approach: Adopting a viewpoint approach, the study leverages existing literature and case studies to analyze the intersection of CSR and AI.

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.

Land Use Change Consistently Reduces α- But Not β- and γ-Diversity of Bees.

Land use change threatens global biodiversity and compromises ecosystem functions, including pollination and food production. Reduced taxonomic α-diversity is often reported under land use change, yet the impacts could be different at larger spatial scales (i.e.

Clinical impact of healthcare-associated infections in Brazilian ICUs: a multicenter prospective cohort.

Background: Limited data is available to evaluate the burden of device associated healthcare infections (HAI) [central line associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI), catheter associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI), and ventilator associated pneumonia (VAP)] in low and-middle-income countries. Our aim is to investigate the population attributable mortality fraction and the absolute mortality difference of HAI in a broad population of critically ill patients from Brazil.

Methods: Multicenter cohort study from September 2019 to December 2023 with prospective individual patient data collection.

The First Patient with Tinea Manuum because of Isolated in Malta.

A 39-year-old woman presented to the dermatology department in January 2022 with a 3-week history of a progressively enlarging and intensely pruritic erythematous annular nodule on her left hand. The lesion started as a small blister, which was initially presumed to be a flare up of her pompholyx dermatitis. On her physician's advice, she applied clobetasol propionate ointment twice daily for 5 days; however the blister continued to increase in size until it burst, revealing raw inflamed skin.

ESR Essentials: imaging of lymphoma-practice recommendations by the European Society of Oncologic Imaging.

Imaging is used for lymphoma detection, Ann Arbor/Lugano staging, and treatment response assessment. [F]FDG PET/CT should be used for most lymphomas, including Hodgkin lymphoma, aggressive/high-grade Non-Hodgkin lymphomas (NHL) such as diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, and many indolent/low-grade NHLs such as follicular lymphoma. Apart from these routinely FDG-avid lymphomas, some indolent NHLs, such as marginal zone lymphoma, are variably FDG-avid; here, [F]FDG PET/CT is an alternative to contrast-enhanced CT at baseline and may be used for treatment response assessment if the lymphoma was FDG-avid at baseline.

Analysis of the Belgian RTT workforce and estimation of workforce needs for the near future.

Introduction: Radiation Therapists (RTTs) are crucial in delivering Radiotherapy (RT) to cancer patients. The advancements in RT technology and the increasing cancer incidence have heightened the demand for RTTs, necessitating strategic workforce planning at the national level. This study aims to identify and estimate current and future RTT workforce in Belgium.

Bilateral Reversible Corneal Edema as a Novel Side-Effect of Levetiracetam - A Case Report.

Purpose: We present a case of levetiracetam-induced corneal edema. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first documented case of bilateral reversible corneal edema secondary to levetiracetam use.

Patients And Methods: A 59-year-old woman was referred to the ophthalmology department with a few weeks' history of bilateral blurring of vision.

Isolating high-quality RNA for RNA-Seq from 10-year-old blood samples.

There is much interest in analysing RNA, particularly with RNA Sequencing, across both research and diagnostic domains. However, its inherent instability renders it susceptible to degradation. Given the imperative for RNA integrity in such applications, proper storage and biobanking of blood samples and successful subsequent RNA isolation is essential to guarantee optimal integrity for downstream analyses.

AIHEMAF-P: An Innovative Healthcare Model for Atrial Fibrillation Patients.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is one of the most common cardiac arrhythmias of clinical relevance and a major cause of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Following a diagnosis of AF, patients are directed towards therapy with anticoagulant drugs to reduce the thromboembolic risk and antiarrhythmics to control their cardiac rhythm, with periodic follow-up checks. Despite the great ease of handling these drugs, we soon realized the need for follow-up models that would allow the appropriateness and safety of these pharmacological treatments to be monitored over time.

Kolařík L., Horáková D., Vlčková J., Matoušková I.: Epidemiological situation of Hodgkin's lymphoma with predictive modeling of global incidence and mortality in 2040.

The Aim Of The Work: The aim of our work was to describe the current epidemiological situation of Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL) with a possible global prediction for the year 2040.

Methods: We obtained data on incidence and mortality of HL using the GLOBOCAN database. The rating was done specifically for men and women and together, with an age range of 0-85+ years.

Exploring the impact of exercise on women with ovarian cancer: A call for more methodologically standardized RCTs to enable a realistic systematic review.

Introduction: Ovarian cancer remains a leading cause of mortality among gynecological malignancies, often diagnosed at advanced stages due to nonspecific symptoms and limited screening tools. Standard treatment, including cytoreductive surgery and chemotherapy, can cause fatigue, physical dysfunction, and psychological distress, impacting quality of life. Exercise interventions have shown potential to mitigate these effects, but inconsistent methodologies in randomized controlled trials (RCTs) limit reliable conclusions and clinical integration.

Q4MRATools: Quantitative tools to microbial risk assessment.

In the context of the European Food Risk Assessment (EU-FORA) fellowship programme, the project 'Q4MRATools: Quantitative Tools to Microbial Risk Assessment' focused on training in predictive microbiology, experimental design and the use of advanced software tools like R, MATLAB, @Risk, DMFit and GInaFiT. The primary objective of this programme was to equip the fellow with foundational knowledge in quantitative microbial risk assessments (QMRA), thereby contributing to the development of more effective and accurate food safety risk assessments. This initiative was part of a broader effort to address the evolving challenges in food safety by enhancing collaborative actions and developing robust food safety systems.

An Unusual Presentation of Cutaneous Bullous Lupus.

Drug-induced lupus erythematosus (DILE) is an autoimmune reaction that results in symptoms of polyarthralgia, fever, and cutaneous lesions and other manifestations. Several drugs have been documented to cause this disease, including procainamide, isoniazid, methyldopa, penicillamine, and hydralazine. Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) manifestations often occur after the patient has been taking the drug without complications for months to years.

Robson ten group classification system for Caesarean sections across Europe: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Unlabelled: The aim of this systemic review and meta-analysis was to examine the differences in caesarean section rates across European regions and at a country level by utilizing the Robson classification system. The study has compared caesarean rates across European regions using the Robson classification to identify the drivers of caesarean section use. This review shows significant variations in caesarean section rates across European regions, ranging from 16.

Therapeutic targeting potential of the protein lysine and arginine methyltransferases to reverse cancer chemoresistance.

Cancer treatments have continued to improve tremendously over the past decade, but therapy resistance is still a common, major factor encountered by patients diagnosed with cancer. Chemoresistance arises due to various circumstances and among these causes, increasing evidence has shown that enzymes referred to as protein methyltransferases (PMTs) play a significant role in the development of chemoresistance in various cancers. These enzymes are responsible for the methylation of different amino acids, particularly lysine and arginine, via protein lysine methyltransferases (PKMTs) and protein arginine methyltransferases (PRMTs), respectively.