Bis-pyrrolidone structures as versatile building blocks for the synthesis of bio-based polyesters and for the preparation of additives.

In this work, three bis-pyrrolidone-based structures (BP) were synthesized combining dimethyl itaconate (DMI), the dimethyl ester derivative of itaconic acid, with various aliphatic diamines having a C4 to C12 carbon chain length with the aim of developing novel bio-based building blocks. All three BPs were obtained with a purity >93% and could further be used without performing any tedious purification step, therefore allowing an easy scalability of the synthesis on a 10 g scale. Their potential application was demonstrated in two key areas of modern polymer science: (1) the enzymatic synthesis of polyesters and (2) their use as poly(lactic acid) (PLA) additives.

Minimal differences observed when comparing the morphological profiling of microglia obtained by confocal laser scanning and optical sectioning microscopy.

Background: While widefield microscopy has long been constrained by out-of-focus scattering, advancements have generated a solution in the form of confocal laser scanning microscopy (cLSM) and optical sectioning microscopy using structured illumination (OSM). In this study, we aim to investigate, using microglia branching, if cLSM and OSM can produce images with comparable morphological characteristics.

Results: By imaging the somatosensory microglia from a tissue slice of a 3-week-old mouse and establishing morphological parameters that characterizes the microglial branching pattern, we were able to show that there is no difference in total length of the branch tree, number of branches, mean branch length and number of primary to terminal branches.

Understanding the Difficulties in Diagnosing Neonatal Sepsis: Assessing the Role of Sepsis Biomarkers.

Background: Neonatal sepsis is a serious condition with high rates of morbidity and mortality, caused by the rapid growth of microorganisms that trigger a systemic reaction. Symptoms can range from mild to severe presentations. The causative microorganism is usually transmitted from mothers, especially from the urogenital tract, or can originate from the community or hospital.

The Analgesic Effect of Morphine on Peripheral Opioid Receptors: An Experimental Research.

Opioids represent one of the key pillars in postoperative pain management, but their use has been associated with a variety of serious side effects. Thus, it is crucial to investigate the timing and course of opioid administration in order to ensure a best efficacy to side-effect profile. The aim of our article was to investigate the analgesic effects of locally administered morphine sulfate (intraplantar) in a carrageenan-induced inflammation model in rats.

The Correlation of Hemostatic Parameters with the Development of Early Sepsis-Associated Encephalopathy. A Retrospective Observational Study.

Introduction: Sepsis-associated encephalopathy (SAE) is one of the most common complications seen both in early and late stages of sepsis, with a wide spectrum of clinical manifestations ranging from mild neurological dysfunction to delirium and coma. The pathophysiology of SAE is still not completely understood, and the diagnosis can be challenging especially in early stages of sepsis and in patients with subtle symptoms.

Aim Of The Study: The objective of this study was to assess the coagulation profile in patients with early SAE and to compare the hemostatic parameters between septic patients with and without SAE in the first 24 hours from sepsis diagnosis.

The impact of oleuropein, hydroxytyrosol, and tyrosol on cardiometabolic risk factors: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

The so-called Mediterranean diet, with olive oil as a key component, is effective in reducing cardiometabolic disease risk. Olive oil consumption improves blood pressure, insulin levels and resistance, supporting heart health and glycemic control. Its phenolic compounds, including oleuropein (OLE), hydroxytyrosol (HT), and tyrosol (TYR) are hypothesized to likely contribute to these benefits.

Impact of frailty and older age on weaning from invasive ventilation: a secondary analysis of the WEAN SAFE study.

Objective: To understand the impact of both frailty and chronologic age on outcomes of weaning from invasive mechanical ventilation (MV).

Methods: The study population consisted of patients enrolled in the 'WorldwidE. AssessmeNt of Separation of pAtients From ventilatory assistancE (WEAN SAFE) study.

Targeting JAK/STAT3 in glioblastoma cells using an alginate-PNIPAm molecularly imprinted hydrogel for the sustained release of ruxolitinib.

Glioblastoma (GBM) is a notoriously aggressive primary brain tumor characterized by elevated recurrence rates and poor overall survival despite multimodal treatment. Local treatment strategies for GBM are safer and more effective alternatives to systemic chemotherapy, directly tackling residual cancer cells in the resection cavity by circumventing the blood-brain barrier. Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) are promising drug delivery systems due to their high-affinity binding cavities that enable tailored release kinetics.

A comprehensive review of structure-function correlations in age-related macular degeneration: Contributions of microperimetry.

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a leading cause of visual impairment and irreversible blindness worldwide. High-resolution imaging techniques have been pivotal in characterizing the morphological alterations in the retina and in identifying structural biomarkers with prognostic significance. In clinical practice, visual function is primarily assessed through visual acuity testing, which, however, does not completely reflect the functional deficits experienced by patients.

ExerGeneDB: A physical exercise-regulated differential gene expression database.

Background: Exercise induces molecular changes that involve multiple organs and tissues. Moreover, these changes are modulated by various exercise parameters-such as intensity, frequency, mode, and duration-as well as by clinical features like gender, age, and body mass index (BMI), each eliciting distinct biological effects. To assist exercise researchers in understanding these changes from a comprehensive perspective that includes multiple organs, diverse exercise regimens, and a range of clinical features, we developed Exercise Regulated Genes Database (ExerGeneDB), a database of exercise-regulated differential genes.

Shear wave elastography for thyroid nodule evaluation in patients with chronic autoimmune thyroiditis.

Purpose: Shear wave elastography (SWE) is a valuable tool in discerning the malignancy risk of thyroid nodules. This study investigates whether 2D-SWE can reliably differentiate malignant thyroid nodules in patients with chronic autoimmune thyroiditis (CAT), despite the challenges posed by fibrosis, which can increase tissue stiffness and complicate diagnosis.

Methods: This retrospective observational study evaluated 130 thyroid nodules (91 benign, 39 malignant) in patients with underlying CAT using conventional ultrasound (B-mode) and 2D-SWE with SuperSonic Mach30 equipment (Supersonic Imagine, Aix-en-Provence, France).

Light energy-driven carbonic anhydrase mediate CO sequestration system with variable-temperature adaptability.

The escalating atmospheric CO₂ concentration urgently demands ecologically friendly mitigation strategies. Compared to alternative catalysts, carbonic anhydrase (CA) demonstrates exceptionally high catalytic efficiency in CO₂ hydration reactions. Nevertheless, traditional CA immobilization techniques exhibit peak enzymatic activity exclusively at optimal temperatures, consequently constraining their effective application across diverse environmental thermal conditions in industrial settings.

Morphological assessments of the oropharyngeal isthmus in professional singing.

and Aims We conducted this research motivated by the incomplete knowledge of the changes made by resonance and harmonic filtering processes made by articulatory gestures in the supralar-yngeal level of the vocal tract. Aim of research The goal of the study is to evaluate the adaptive changes taking place at the oropharyngeal isthmus during sustained phonation. Methods We focused on exploring the dynamics of the oropharyngeal pavilion in voice professionals using Cone-Beam Computed Tomogra-phy (CBCT).

Up-front resection for hepatocellular carcinoma: Assessing futility in the preoperative setting.

Objective: We sought to develop a predictive model to preoperatively identify patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) at risk of undergoing futile upfront liver resection (LR).

Methods: Patients undergoing curative-intent LR for HCC were identified from a large multi-institutional database. Futile LR was defined by death or disease recurrence within six months postoperatively.

Does Perfectionism Affect Parental Identity Development? A One-Year Longitudinal Study.

Introduction: Previous studies have revealed that perfectionism and identity development during adolescence are related. However, no longitudinal study has been conducted on the impact of perfectionism on identity development in adulthood. In the present study, we analyzed for the first time the longitudinal relationship between personal standards, an indicator of perfectionistic strivings, and concern over mistakes and doubts about actions, indicators of perfectionist concerns, and identity development in one of the most important yet least understood domains for adults, parental identity.

Management Measures and Trends of Biological Invasions in Europe: A Survey-Based Assessment of Local Managers.

Biological invasions are a major threat to biodiversity, ecosystem functioning and nature's contributions to people worldwide. However, the effectiveness of invasive alien species (IAS) management measures and the progress toward achieving biodiversity targets remain uncertain due to limited and nonuniform data availability. Management success is usually assessed at a local level and documented in technical reports, often written in languages other than English, which makes such data notoriously difficult to collect at large geographic scales.

ENHANCED RESTORATION OF VISUAL CODE AFTER TARGETING ON BIPOLAR CELLS COMPARED TO RETINAL GANGLION CELLS WITH OPTOGENETIC THERAPY.

Optogenetic therapy is a promising vision restoration method where light sensitive opsins are introduced to the surviving inner retina following photoreceptor degeneration. The cell type targeted for opsin expression will likely influence the quality of restored vision. However, a like-for-like pre-clinical comparison of visual responses evoked following equivalent opsin expression in the two major targets, ON bipolar (ON BCs) or retinal ganglion cells (RGCs), is absent.

Periorificial dermatitis in infants and preschoolers - a narrative review.

Periorifical dermatitis (POD) is a papular, chronic inflammatory skin disease commonly seen in women in their 2nd to 4th decade of life. The major differential diagnosis is persistent acne. In children, POD is less common than in adults.

The effect of a general practitioner's perception of a patient request for antibiotics on antibiotic prescribing for respiratory tract infections: secondary analysis of a point prevalence audit survey in 18 European countries.

Background: Illness severity, comorbidity, fever, age and symptom duration influence antibiotic prescribing for respiratory tract infections (RTI). Non-medical determinants, such as patient expectations, also impact prescribing.

Aim: To quantify the effect of general practitioners' (GPs') perception of a patient request for antibiotics on antibiotic prescribing for RTI and investigate effect modification by medical determinants and country.

Alkenyl pheromones: Raman spectroscopic analysis, DFT modeling, and machine learning for stereoisomerism evaluation.

Alkenyl pheromones are a class of insect sex pheromones that are characterized by the presence of one or more double bonds, which can be either in the E(trans) or Z(cis) configuration. This structural variation is essential in mating, as it influences reproductive behavior and provides a potential method for insect control. As a base for rapid and in-situ screening of synthetic pheromones or pheromone-based products, this study explores the potential of Raman spectroscopy to differentiate between the two geometrical isomers, E(trans) and Z(cis), of the alkenyl pheromones.

Deep Eutectic Solvents Meet Non-Aqueous Cosolvents: A Modeling and Simulation Perspective-A Tutorial Review.

Deep eutectic solvents (DESs) have recently gained attention due to their tailorable properties and versatile applications in several fields, including green chemistry, pharmaceuticals, and energy storage. Their tunable properties can be enhanced by mixing DESs with cosolvents such as ethanol, acetonitrile, and water. DESs are structurally complex, and molecular modeling techniques, including quantum mechanical calculations and molecular dynamics simulations, play a crucial role in understanding their intricate behavior when mixed with cosolvents.

Efficiency of carbon dioxide capture with metal substitutions in the MIL-88A metal-organic framework.

Carbon dioxide capture is a vital approach for mitigating air pollution and global warming. In this context, metal-organic frameworks are promising candidates. Particularly, MIL-88A (M), where the metal nodes (M) are connected to fumarate linkers in its structure, has demonstrated significant potential for CO capture.