Cerebral Microbleeds and Amyloid Pathology Estimates From the Amyloid Biomarker Study.

Importance: Baseline cerebral microbleeds (CMBs) and APOE ε4 allele copy number are important risk factors for amyloid-related imaging abnormalities in patients with Alzheimer disease (AD) receiving therapies to lower amyloid-β plaque levels.

Objective: To provide prevalence estimates of any, no more than 4, or fewer than 2 CMBs in association with amyloid status, APOE ε4 copy number, and age.

Design, Setting, And Participants: This cross-sectional study used data included in the Amyloid Biomarker Study data pooling initiative (January 1, 2012, to the present [data collection is ongoing]).

Depressive Symptoms and Amyloid Pathology.

Importance: Depressive symptoms are associated with cognitive decline in older individuals. Uncertainty about underlying mechanisms hampers diagnostic and therapeutic efforts. This large-scale study aimed to elucidate the association between depressive symptoms and amyloid pathology.

Trends in Breslow thickness of nodular and superficial spreading melanoma subtypes and associated factors: a twelve-year analysis from a tertiary referral center in Greece.

Background: Primary tumor thickness is important for prognosis of melanoma patients. To enhance prevention and quantify the true burden of melanoma, better understanding of thickness patterns and associated characteristics is crucial. Previous studies have been limited to report trends and address risk factors of thickness in specific melanoma subtypes in the Greek population.

Imaging predictors of adverse prognosis in Fabry disease cardiomyopathy: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Cardiac involvement represents the main cause of death in patients with Fabry disease (FD). Echocardiography and cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) have an established diagnostic role, but their prognostic value remains unresolved. This systematic review and meta-analysis sought to assess the prognostic implications of imaging parameters in FD.

Early and Late Outcomes of Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement in Patients With Prior Chest Radiation: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: Patients with prior history of chest or mediastinal radiation are deemed high risk for surgical AVR. Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) has emerged as a promising alternative for these patients, however, this patient population was underrepresented in prior TAVR trials.

Aims: To compare the outcomes of TAVR in patients with versus without a history of prior chest or mediastinal radiation.

Cactus-like Metamaterial Structures for Electromagnetically Induced Transparency at THz frequencies.

THz metamaterials present unique opportunities for next-generation technologies and applications as they can fill the "THz gap" originating from the weak response of natural materials in this regime, providing a variety of novel or advanced electromagnetic wave control components and systems. Here, we propose a novel metamaterial design made of three-dimensional, metallic, "cactus-like" meta-atoms, showing electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) and enhanced refractive index sensing performance at low THz frequencies. Following a detailed theoretical analysis, the structure is realized experimentally using multiphoton polymerization and electroless silver plating.

Nanotechnology-based approaches for targeted drug delivery for the treatment of respiratory tract infections.

Background: Nanotechnology has emerged as a promising field for the diagnosis, monitoring, and treatment of respiratory tract infections (RTIs). By leveraging the unique properties of nanoscale delivery systems, nanotechnology can significantly enhance the selectivity and efficacy of antimicrobials, thereby reducing off-target effects.

Objective: This review explores the development and application of targeted nanosystems in combating viral, bacterial, and fungal RTIs.

Lower urinary tract dysfunction following stroke: From molecular mechanisms to clinical anatomy.

Bladder dysfunction is a common clinical problem in stroke patients and a strong prognostic factor of disability and exerts an enormous impact on health and economy. The aim of this narrative review was tο examine the pathophysiological mechanisms of lower urinary tract symptoms after stroke, as well as the relevant clinical anatomy. Normal micturition is achieved through complex coordination between brain regions, spinal cord, and peripheral nerves, and anatomic brain connectivity is crucial to lower urinary tract physiology.

Role of pulmonary rehabilitation in extracellular matrix protein expression in vastus lateralis muscle in atrophic and nonatrophic patients with COPD.

Background: In response to exercise-based pulmonary rehabilitation (PR), the type of muscle fibre remodelling differs between COPD patients with peripheral muscle wasting (atrophic patients with COPD) and those without wasting (nonatrophic patients with COPD). Extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins are major constituents of the cell micro-environment steering cell behaviour and regeneration. We investigated whether the composition of ECM in atrophic compared to nonatrophic patients with COPD differs in response to PR.

Lived experiences of migrant and refugee parents: Challenges encountered during their journey and settlement in Europe.

Parenting in the context of migration presents a unique set of challenges for refugee parents, who must navigate the cultural norms and expectations of both their home and resettlement countries while balancing their daily parenting responsibilities and practices. This study aims to provide a critical analysis of the experiences, needs, and challenges faced by migrant and refugee parents during their journey and settlement in Europe, as recounted through their personal narratives. Utilizing a qualitative approach, the researchers collected twenty-seven life narratives of migrant and/or refugee parents through purposive sampling.

Epidemiology of Vulvovaginal Candidiasis in Greece: A 2-Year Single-Centre Study.

Background: The epidemiology of vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) in Greece remains poorly reported and outdated.

Objectives: We therefore conducted a 2-year retrospective survey to assess the epidemiological aspects of the infection among symptomatic Greek patients.

Patients/methods: High vaginal swab samples were collected from adult women with clinically suspected VVC attending a private diagnostic laboratory in Athens.

Investigation of cardiac remodeling and cardiac function on fetuses conceived via artificial reproductive technologies: a review.

The prevalence of artificial reproductive technologies (ART), such as intra-uterine insemination (IUI), fertilization (IVF), and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), has surged in response to the global increase in infertility rates, now impacting 17.5 % of couples. With over nine million babies born through ART, the safety and efficacy of these methods are largely recognized; however, emerging concerns regarding their association with prenatal and long-term health risks, especially cardiovascular disease (CVD), necessitate a thorough examination.

Comparing apples and oranges in youth depression treatments? A quantitative critique of the evidence base and guidelines.

Objectives: Should a young person receive psychotherapy or medication for their depression and on what evidence do we base this decision? In this paper, we test the factors across modalities that may influence comparability between medication and psychotherapy trials.

Methods: We included 92 randomised controlled trials (RCTs) of psychotherapy and medication for child and adolescent depression (mean age 4-18 years). Using meta-analyses, we compared (a) participant characteristics and (b) trial characteristics in medication and psychotherapy trials.

Deciphering the role of cytokines in aging: biomarker potential and effective targeting.

Aging is often characterized by chronic inflammation, immune system dysregulation, and cellular senescence with chronically elevated levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines. These small glycoproteins are mainly secreted by immune cells, mediating intercellular communication and immune system modulation through inflammatory signaling. Their pro- and anti-inflammatory effects make them a noteworthy research topic as well as a promising ally in combating inflammation and the aging process.

The clinical assessment of lung involvement in patients with Still's disease, results from the multicentre international AIDA Network Still's Disease Registry.

Objectives: To assess the lung involvement in patients with Still's disease, an inflammatory disease assessing both children and adults. To exploit possible associated factors for parenchymal lung involvement in these patients.

Methods: A multicentre observational study was arranged assessing consecutive patients with Still's disease characterized by the lung involvement among those included in the AIDA (AutoInflammatory Disease Alliance) Network Still's Disease Registry.

An exceptionally rare case of a giant parathyroid adenoma with carcinoma-like presentation.

Giant parathyroid adenoma (GPA) is an extremely rare cause of primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) and may sometimes mimic parathyroid carcinoma (PC). Parathyroid carcinoma is also a very rare entity. Both preoperative and postoperative diagnosis of the two conditions remains a challenge.

Can Sleep Predict Conversion to Mild Cognitive Impairment and Dementia? Results From the Hellenic Longitudinal Investigation of Aging and Diet Study.

Objective: Sleep disturbance is considered a risk factor for cognitive decline in elderly individuals. Our aim in the current study was to investigate whether baseline sleep parameters can predict the conversion from normal cognition to mild cognitive impairment or dementia at follow-up. The Hellenic Longitudinal Investigation of Aging and Diet is a longitudinal population-based study designed to estimate the prevalence and incidence of cognitive decline and dementia in the older Greek population.

Ultrathin, Dynamically Controllable Circularly Polarized Emission Laser Enabled by Resonant Chiral Metasurfaces.

We demonstrate a simple, low-cost, and ultracompact chiral resonant metasurface design, which, by strong local coupling to a quantum gain medium (quantum emitters), allows to implement an ultrathin metasurface laser, capable of generating tunable circularly polarized coherent lasing output. According to our detailed numerical investigations, the lasing emission can be transformed from linear to circular and switch from right- to left-handed circularly polarized (CP) not only by altering the metasurface chiral response but also by changing the polarization of a linearly polarized pump wave, thus enabling dynamic lasing-polarization control. Given the increasing interest for CP laser emission, our chiral metasurface laser design proves to be a versatile yet straightforward strategy to generate a strong and tailored CP emission laser, promising great potential for future applications in both photonics and materials science.

A non-interventional biomarker study in patients with adenocarcinoma of the lung treated with nintedanib plus docetaxel following progression on chemotherapy and/or immunotherapy: LUME-BioNIS.

Background: Anti-angiogenic agents, such as nintedanib and ramucirumab, when combined with docetaxel, are subsequent treatment options in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who have failed on first-line chemotherapy or immunochemotherapy. However, to date, there are no validated predictive biomarkers for efficacy of anti-angiogenic therapies in this setting. The aim of this study was to explore whether genetic or genomic markers, alone or combined with clinical covariates, could be used to predict overall survival (OS) in patients with NSCLC who are eligible for treatment with nintedanib plus docetaxel.

Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio and Other Complete Blood Count Parameters in the Diagnosis of Serious Bacterial Infections in Febrile Infants Under Three Months.

Background: The incidence of serious bacterial infections (SBI) in febrile infants under three months is high. Complete blood count parameters, an easily accessible and low-cost test, may have diagnostic potential for SBI.

Objectives: This study evaluated the efficacy of absolute neutrophil count (ANC), neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio (LMR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), platelet-to-mean platelet volume ratio (PLT/MPV), red cell distribution width (RDW), and C-reactive protein (CRP) in distinguishing febrile infants under three months with SBI.

Effect of Major Mycotoxins on Public Health Through the Consumption of Cheese Products.

Food safety is a key priority for public health. However, consumer demand for cheese products may expose the population to the risk of mycotoxicosis and cancer, among others. Acute mycotoxicosis and cancer are examples of linked disorders.

Green hydrothermal approach for the synthesis of carbon quantum dots from waste tea bags for acrylamide detection in drinking water: A fluorescence assay validated by HPLC-PDA analysis.

The study focused on converting tea bag waste into strong fluorescence carbon quantum dots (TBW-CQDs) for the detection of acrylamide in drinking water, antimicrobial activity, and photocatalytic degradation. The TBW-CQDs exhibited blue luminescence and maximum absorbance at 287 nm under UV light and distinctive fluorescence emission and excitation wavelengths at 425 nm and 287 nm, respectively. TBW-CQDs revealed a particle size of 8.