Dysregulation of genes involved in the long-chain fatty acid transport in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.

Background: Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is an aggressive lethal malignancy with limited options for treatment and a 5-year survival rate of 11% in the United States. As for other types of tumors, such as colorectal cancer, aberrant lipid synthesis and reprogrammed lipid metabolism have been suggested to be associated with PDAC development and progression.

Aim: To identify the possible involvement of lipid metabolism in PDAC by analyzing in tumoral and non-tumoral tissues the expression level of the most relevant genes involved in the long-chain fatty acid (FA) import into cell.

Sex Disparities in Ischemic Heart Disease Mortality in Europe.

Background: Ischemic heart disease (IHD) is the leading cause of death in the European Union (EU). Understanding variations by sex, income, and countries can help in tailoring effective public health policies.

Objectives: The purpose of the study was to examine trends in sex differences in IHD prevalence and prognosis within the EU.

Practices, strategies, and challenges in antibiotic treatment and prevention of antimicrobial resistance from the perspectives of Romanian community pharmacists and general practitioners: a Goffman-inspired qualitative interview study.

Introduction: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) represents a persistent and ascensive global threat influenced by antibiotic misuse and overuse. In the Romanian context, patterns of antibiotic consumption and resistance within the healthcare system are marked in the red scenario on the European map. General practitioners and pharmacists, among others, play a major role in stewardship towards AMR.

Adversity versus fate, genetics, and the environment: Causal beliefs and attitudes toward intellectual disability.

The present study investigated the role of demographic and personal factors concerning the attitudes toward intellectual disability. Our sample consisted of 482 Romanians aged 18 to 74. We measured the overall attitudes toward intellectual disability, as well as some specific dimensions, i.

Prognostic impact of expression of CD2, CD25, and/or CD30 in/on mast cells in systemic mastocytosis: a registry study of the European Competence Network on Mastocytosis.

Expression of CD2, CD25 and/or CD30 in extracutaneous mast cells (MC) is a minor diagnostic criterion for systemic mastocytosis (SM) in the classification of the World Health Organization and International Consensus Classification. So far, it remains unknown whether expression of these antigens on MC is of prognostic significance in SM. We performed a retrospective multi-center study of patients with SM using the data set of the registry of the European Competence Network on Mastocytosis, including 5034 patients with various MC disorders.

Association between patient perception of disease status and different components of the Minimal Disease Activity (MDA) criteria in psoriatic arthritis.

Objective: The aim of this analysis was to evaluate the relationship between the criteria met of the Minimal Disease Activity (MDA) score for psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and patient-perceived disease status.

Methods: We analysed data from the ReFlaP study (NCT03119805), a cross-sectional international study of adult patients with PsA. Patients self-reported if they felt their PsA was in remission (REM), low disease activity (LDA) or neither.

Right Ventricular Function and Outcomes Stratified by the Effective Regurgitant Orifice Area in Secondary Tricuspid Regurgitation.

Background: In patients with moderate and severe secondary tricuspid regurgitation (STR), the effective regurgitant orifice area (EROA), corrected using the proximal isovelocity surface area (PISA) method for tricuspid valve leaflet tethering and low TR jet velocities, has an unclear threshold for identifying high-risk patients. This study aimed to establish a risk-based EROA cutoff and assess the impact of right ventricular (RV) remodeling on outcomes in low-risk STR patients according to EROA.

Methods: We included 513 consecutive outpatients (age 75±13 years, 47% male) with moderate and severe STR.

Towards a green economy: Investigating the impact of sustainable finance, green technologies, and environmental policies on environmental degradation.

Environmental degradation is a problem, and the consequences, in terms of emission of pollutants into different ecosystems, human health, and sustainable development are disastrous. This study explains the complex interactions that exist among sustainable finance, green technology innovation, green energy adoption, the climate change financial policy, green growth index, government spending, and financial globalization across the globe. This research applies to an extensive dataset that ranges to 23 years in 50 countries by enforcing robust dynamic econometric methods such as unit root tests, cointegration analysis, and generalized method of moments (GMM) estimations for the analysis of these complicated issues.

Ongoing measles outbreak in Romania: Clinical investigation and molecular epidemiology performed on whole genome sequences.

Aim: Romania is currently facing a prolonged measles outbreak. The aim of the study was to analyse the circulating human measles virus (HMV) strains by combining whole genome sequencing (WGS) with phylogenetic analysis, with a focus on the haemagglutinin gene.

Methods: We conducted an observational study in the first five months of 2024, in which 168 patients diagnosed with measles were randomly included.

Cardiovascular diseases, prevention and management of complications in older adults and frail patients treated for elective or post-traumatic hip orthopaedic interventions.

Due to the aging population, focusing on healthy aging has become a global priority. Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) and frailty, characterized by increased vulnerability to adverse stress and health events, interact synergistically in advanced age. In older adults, hip fractures are a frequent dramatic "life-transition" event.

Plasma Proteomic Signature as a Predictor of Age Advancement in People Living With HIV.

Due to the increased burden of non-AIDS-related comorbidities in people living with HIV (PLHIV), identifying biomarkers and mechanisms underlying premature aging and the risk of developing age-related comorbidities is a priority. Evidence suggests that the plasma proteome is an accurate source for measuring biological age and predicting age-related clinical outcomes. To investigate whether PLHIV on antiretroviral therapy (ART) exhibit a premature aging phenotype, we profiled the plasma proteome of two independent cohorts of virally suppressed PLHIV (200HIV and 2000HIV) and one cohort of people without HIV (200FG) using O-link technology.

The role of multi-modality imaging for the assessment of left atrium and left atrial appendage. A clinical consensus statement of the European Association of Cardiovascular Imaging (EACVI), European Heart Rhythm Association (EHRA) of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC).

Structural, architectural, contractile or electrophysiological alterations may occur in the left atrium (LA). The concept of LA cardiopathy is supported by accumulating scientific evidence demonstrating that LA remodeling has become a cornerstone diagnostic and prognostic marker. The structure and the function of LA and left atrial appendage (LAA) which is an integral part of the LA, are key elements for a better understanding of multiple clinical conditions, most notably atrial fibrillation (AF), cardioembolism, heart failure and mitral valve diseases.

Utilizing deep learning to predict Alzheimer's disease and mild cognitive impairment with optical coherence tomography.

Introduction: Diagnostic performance of optical coherence tomography (OCT) to detect Alzheimer's disease (AD) and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) remains limited. We aimed to develop a deep-learning algorithm using OCT to detect AD and MCI.

Methods: We performed a cross-sectional study involving 228 Asian participants (173 cases/55 controls) for model development and testing on 68 Asian (52 cases/16 controls) and 85 White (39 cases/46 controls) participants.

Free vascularized fibula transfer in single- or double-barrel technique for reconstruction of segmental bone defects following oncological resection or posttraumatic bone loss.

Background: Significant osseous defects or osteonecrosis, precipitated by open fractures, infections, or neoplastic conditions, represent infrequent yet critical medical conditions. The free vascularized fibular graft (FVFG) is a challenging but straightforward, reliable surgical intervention for the reconstruction of defects across various anatomical regions. This study aims to compare, quantify, and demonstrate the FVFG's versatility.

Relationship between motivational climate, anxiety and average mark in pre-service physical education teachers: a cross-sectional study based on structural equation modelling approach.

Background: Motivation is a variable that directly influences task orientation. Within the motivational sphere, the motivational climate determines whether a task is performed with an intrinsic or extrinsic.

Purpose: It has been observed that depending on motivational orientations, anxiety levels and task performance can be increased.

Fine tuning enzyme activity assays for monitoring the enzymatic hydrolysis of PET.

Efficient monitoring of the enzymatic PET-hydrolysis is crucial for developing novel plastic-degrading biocatalysts. Herein, we aimed to upgrade in terms of accuracy the analytical methods useful for monitoring enzymatic PET-degradation. For the HPLC-based assessment, the incorporation of an internal standard within the analytic procedure enabled a more accurate quantification of the overall TPA content and the assessment of molar distributions and relative content of each aromatic degradation product.

Feeding sources of mosquitoes in Galapagos Islands: A potential threat to wildlife conservation.

Vector-borne diseases pose significant threats to both human and animal health, including wildlife, particularly in vulnerable island ecosystems like the Galapagos Islands. This study examines the mosquito community composition around domestic dogs and Galapagos sea lion rookeries across four islands: San Cristobal, Isabela, Santa Cruz, and Floreana. Using BG-Sentinel traps, a total of 292 mosquitoes were collected, identifying three species: Culex quinquefasciatus, Aedes aegypti, and A.

Self-Assembling of Multilayered Polymorphs with Ion Beams.

Polymorphism determines significant variations in materials' properties by lattice symmetry variation. If they are stacked together into multilayers, polymorphs may work as an alternative approach to the sequential deposition of layers with different chemical compositions. However, selective polymorph crystallization during conventional thin film synthesis is not trivial; changes of temperature or pressure when switching from one polymorph to another during synthesis may cause degradation of the structural quality.

Essential and Nonessential Elements, Lipids and Volatile Compounds in Coffee and Transfer to Coffee Brews: Assessment of the Benefits and Potential Risks for Human Health.

Coffee is a popular beverage with significant commercial and social importance. The study aimed to determine the fatty acids profile, volatile compounds, and concentration of major and trace elements (Na, Mg, K, Ca, P, S, Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn, Cr, Ni, Cd, and Pb) in the two most important varieties of coffee, namely arabica and robusta. The leaching percentages of mineral elements and the effect of boiling time on the transfer of elements to aqueous extracts were also determined.

Snow White's tale in nephrology: the emerging threat of skin-whitening creams on kidney health.

The timeless tale of Snow White, with its emphasis on fair skin as a beauty ideal, mirrors a contemporary issue in nephrology: the harmful impact of skin-whitening creams on kidney health. Fairness creams have deeply embedded themselves in global society, driven by a pervasive obsession with lighter skin tones as a symbol of beauty. This widespread use reflects deeply rooted cultural beliefs and social norms, despite the significant health risks associated with these products.

Genetic Rescue of the Dinaric Lynx Population: Insights for Conservation From Genetic Monitoring and Individual-Based Modelling.

Inbreeding depression poses a severe threat to small populations, leading to the fixation of deleterious mutations and decreased survival probability. While the establishment of natural gene flow between populations is an ideal long-term solution, its practical implementation is often challenging. Reinforcement of populations by translocating individuals from larger populations is a viable strategy for reducing inbreeding, increasing genetic diversity and potentially saving populations from extinction.