Under-five mortality and social determinants in africa: a systematic review.

Purpose: Under-five mortality is a key public health indicator, highly responsive to preventive interventions. While global efforts have made strides in reducing mortality rates in this age group, significant disparities persist, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa. This study aimed to systematically review the factors influencing under-five mortality in Africa, focusing on sociodemographic factors and health-related determinants.

Nephrectomy in Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease: A consensus statement of the ERA Genes & Kidney Working Group.

A substantial number of patients with Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease (ADPKD) undergo a nephrectomy, especially in work-up for a kidney transplantation. Currently, there is no evidence-based algorithm to guide clinicians which patients should undergo nephrectomy, the optimal timing of this procedure, or the preferred surgical technique. This systematic review-based consensus statement aimed to answer important questions regarding nephrectomy in ADPKD.

Ultrasound-guided release of carpal tunnel syndrome - anterograde technique.

Compression of the median nerve in the carpal tunnel is a frequent pathology with severe functional impact. An ultrasound-guided technique was developed to preserve structures, diminish scar fibrosis and enable fast return to full activity. Its advantages are safety and low additional cost.

Reassessing the Role of Morning Cortisol in Adrenal Insufficiency Diagnosis: Insights from a Multicentric Cohort.

The diagnosis of adrenal insufficiency (AI) is challenging due to nonspecific symptoms. Measuring 8 AM serum cortisol levels is a common screening test, but its accuracy in predicting AI remains uncertain. This study aimed to evaluate the predictive diagnostic value of basal morning cortisol levels in suspected AI cases and compare them with levels in healthy individuals.

Heavy metal(loid)s and nutrients in sewage sludge in Portugal - Suitability for use in agricultural soils and assessment of potential risks.

The presence of heavy metal(loid)s in sewage sludge is a cause of concern and an obstacle to its agricultural valorisation. This study analysed the elemental composition of sewage sludge from 42 Portuguese wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) during summer and winter, investigating heavy metal(loid) contamination, nutrient content, and potential risks related to sludge application to agricultural soils. Levels of 8 heavy metal(loid)s were investigated, ranging from not detected (Hg) to 5120 mg kg dw (Zn), decreasing in the order Zn > Cu > Cr > Ni > Pb > As>Cd > Hg.

Validation of the Portuguese version of the Movement Disorder Society non-motor rating scale (MDS-NMS) in Parkinson's disease.

Background: The Movement Disorder Society Non-Motor Rating Scale (MDS-NMS) serves as a comprehensive clinical assessment tool for non-motor symptoms in Parkinson's disease (PD) OBJECTIVES: This study aims to validate the Portuguese version of the MDS-NMS, addressing the critical need for culturally adapted rating scales in Portuguese-speaking populations.

Methods: This multicenter, cross-sectional study engaged native Portuguese-speaking PD patients from 16 Movement Disorders Centers across Portugal and Brazil. We conducted a meticulous translation process into Portuguese, including forward-backward translation and cognitive pretesting.

Wavefront sensing: A breakthrough for objective evaluation of dynamic accommodation in accommodative dysfunctions.

The purpose of this study was to use wavefront sensing as an objective method to detect and assess dynamic accommodation in subjects with accommodative dysfunctions and symptoms related to near-vision tasks. Sixty-three subjects were divided into control (N = 18), symptomatic without any accommodative dysfunction (SWD) (N = 18), infacility of accommodation (INFA) (N = 6), excess of accommodation (EA) (N = 9), and insufficiency of accommodation (INSA) (N = 12) groups. Accommodation was stimulated in different cycles of accommodation and disaccommodation while ocular aberrations were measured.

Metformin reverses infertility in a mouse model of endometriosis: unveiling disease pathways and implications for future clinical approaches.

Research Question: Does metformin reverse endometriosis-associated infertility?

Design: Endometriosis was induced by transplanting uterus fragments from B6CBAF1 mice into recipients of the same strain. The mice were divided into groups: endometriosis (End, n = 24), sham-operated (Sham, n = 12), endometriosis with metformin (0.5mg/ml) orally administered for 3 months (EndMet, n = 21) and sham-operated metformin-treated (ShamMet, n = 16).

Replacing Theories with Evidence Around the Axes of the Eye in Intraocular Lens Selection: A Review for the Clinician.

The prevailing narrative in scientific literature has long overemphasized the role of ocular axes in intraocular lens (IOL) implantation, perpetuating misconceptions that have led to unnecessary exclusions of patients. Historical assumptions, coupled with inconsistent terminology and statistical inaccuracies, have muddled clinical decision-making. This review delves into these misconceptions, offering a critical reassessment of their relevance.

A new population pharmacokinetic model for dosing optimization of zonisamide in patients with refractory epilepsy.

Zonisamide exhibits significant pharmacokinetic variability, demanding for the development of population pharmacokinetic (PopPK) models to identify key factors influencing drug disposition. This study aimed to develop and validate a PopPK to optimize zonisamide posology in patients with refractory epilepsy. A total of 114 plasma concentrations of zonisamide, obtained from 64 patients, were used for PopPK model development, employing the nonlinear mixed-effects modelling approach.

Co-cultivation of Komagataeibacter sp. and Lacticaseibacillus sp. strains to produce bacterial nanocellulose-hyaluronic acid nanocomposite membranes for skin wound healing applications.

Inspired by natural microbial cooperation, a co-culture approach was used to synthesize bacterial nanocellulose (BNC)-based nanocomposites for potential wound healing applications. By co-culturing either Komagataeibacter xylinus (K1G4) or the never tested strain K. rhaeticus (K2G46) with the hyaluronic acid (HA)-producer Lacticaseibacillus casei UMCC 2535, two BNC-HA nanocomposites were obtained (C1-K1 and C2-K2).

Nationwide study on multimorbidity prevalence: 7.64 million primary healthcare users in Portugal with multiple chronic conditions.

Objectives: The goal of this study was to explore the prevalence of multimorbidity, its geographic variation, and changes from 2022 to 2024 in Portugal.

Study Design: Information regarding the chronic health conditions active in the primary healthcare patients' health problems lists on the electronic health records are derived from the digital platform Identity Card of Primary Healthcare (Bilhete de Identidade dos Cuidados de Saúde Primários, BI CSP) data for the period of 2022 and 2024.

Methods: BI CSP nationwide data from May 2024 of the 10,366,861 registered users in Portuguese primary healthcare were used to determine the prevalence of multimorbidity (presence of 2 or more chronic health conditions) and analize differences to 2022.

A single gene orchestrates androgen variation underlying male mating morphs in ruffs.

Androgens are pleiotropic and play pivotal roles in the formation and variation of sexual phenotypes. We show that differences in circulating androgens between the three male mating morphs in ruff sandpipers are linked to 17-beta hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 2 (HSD17B2), encoded by a gene within the supergene that determines the morphs. Low-testosterone males had higher expression in blood than high-testosterone males, as well as in brain areas related to social behaviors and testosterone production.

Expert navigators deploy rational complexity-based decision precaching for large-scale real-world planning.

Efficient planning is a distinctive hallmark of intelligence in humans, who routinely make rapid inferences over complex world contexts. However, studies investigating how humans accomplish this tend to focus on naive participants engaged in simplistic tasks with small state spaces, which do not reflect the intricacy, ecological validity, and human specialization in real-world planning. In this study, we examine the street-by-street route planning of London taxi drivers navigating across more than 26,000 streets in London (United Kingdom).

Survey of legislative frameworks and national recommendations governing paediatric maintenance haemodialysis in Europe.

Background: The application of international recommendations for paediatric maintenance haemodialysis (HD) could be strengthened by national laws or written recommendations. Our aim was therefore to describe the national rules governing paediatric maintenance HD in European countries.

Methods: A national representative, approved by the president of each paediatric nephrology society, was contacted in all 42 European countries to complete two online questionnaires.

Hydrogen-Bonding-Driven Design of Organic-Inorganic Hybrid Ferroelastics with Reversible Photoisomerization.

The development of photoresponsive ferroelastics, which couple light-induced macroscopic mechanical and microscopic domain properties, represents a frontier in materials science with profound implications for advanced functional applications. In this study, we report the rational design and synthesis of two new organic-inorganic hybrid ferroelastic crystals, (MA)(MeN)[Fe(CN)(NO)] (MA = methylammonium) () and (MA)(MeNOH)[Fe(CN)(NO)] (), using a dual-organic molecular design strategy that exploits hydrogen-bonding interactions for tailoring ferroelastic properties. Specifically, exhibits a two-step phase transition at 138 and 242 K, while the introduction of a hydroxyl group in stabilizes its ferroelastic phase to a significantly higher temperature, achieving a phase transition at 328 K, 86 K above that of .

Allergic Rhinitis and its Impact on Asthma (ARIA) Classes in MASK-air Users.

Background And Objectives: The Allergic Rhinitis and its Impact on Asthma (ARIA) guidelines classify rhinitis as "intermittent" or "persistent" and "mild" or "moderate-severe". To assess ARIA classes in a real-world study in terms of phenotypic differences and their association with asthma.

Methods: We performed a cross-sectional real-world study based on users of the MASK-air® app who reported data for at least 3 different months.

Exercise-Driven Comprehensive Recovery: Pulmonary Rehabilitation's Impact on Lung Function, Mechanics, and Immune Response in Post-COVID-19 Patients.

We sought to evaluate the effects of a 12-week pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) program on lung function, mechanics, as well as pulmonary and systemic inflammation in a cohort of 33 individuals with moderate to severe post-COVID-19. : The pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) program employed a combination of aerobic and resistance exercises. Thirty minutes of treadmill training at 75% of the maximum heart rate, combined with 30 min resistance training consisting of 75% of one maximum repetition, three times a week throughout 12 weeks.

Why Is the Association Between Mediterranean Diet and Physical Performance in Athletes Inconclusive? Implications for Future Studies.

: Athletes increasingly turn to nutrition and supplements to enhance performance, yet the evidence surrounding the efficacy of the Mediterranean diet (MD) remains inconclusive. This scoping review aims to evaluate identify gaps in the existing literature and provide implications for future research on the MD's potential to improve athletic performance across various demographics, sport types, and performance measures. : We conducted a systematic search of peer-reviewed studies published across four databases (PubMed, Scopus, Scielo, and Google Scholar) using the following terms and their combinations: "mediterranean diet", "performance", "athlete", "sport".