Indicators of Obesity and Cardiorespiratory Fitness in Croatian Children.

Background/objectives: The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between CRF (cardiorespiratory fitness) and body composition, specifically obesity indicators, in a sample of schoolchildren from the continental and Adriatic regions of the Republic of Croatia. Given that Croatia ranks among the leading countries in Europe in terms of obesity, it is believed that there is a need to combat this condition starting from school age. The usefulness of cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) lies in the fact that it is one of the indicators of children's overall health and is considered a measure of general health status.

Treatment Options for Patients with Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer and Liver Metastases.

Lung cancer represents the most common cause of cancer-related death. Patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and liver metastases have worse prognosis, with an overall survival (OS) from three to six months. The majority of them have a poor response to chemotherapy, and the data are controversial regarding the response to immunotherapy.

Long-Term Outcomes in Patients with EGFR Positive Lung Adenocarcinoma and Subgroup Analysis Based on Presence of Liver Metastases.

Lung cancer represents the most common cause of cancer related death. Patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and liver metastases (LM) have worse prognosis with an overall survival (OS) of three to six months. The aim of this study was to investigate long-term outcomes in patients with EGFR mutated (EGFRmut) lung adenocarcinoma as well as the presence of LM.

Personalized Antenatal Corticosteroid Therapy and Central Nervous System Development: Reflections on the Gold Standard of Fetomaternal Therapy.

Background: The term "fetal programming" refers to the effects of endogenous and exogenous corticosteroids, whether received from the mother or the fetus, on brain development and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis reset. The authors of this narrative review examine the WHO's guidelines for prenatal corticosteroids in pregnant women who are at high risk of premature delivery. These guidelines are regarded as the best available for preventing late-life problems resulting from preterm.

Plant-Based Sunscreen Emulgel: UV Boosting Effect of Bilberry and Green Tea NaDES Extracts.

Natural deep eutectic solvents (NaDES) were employed for the extraction of bilberry and green tea leaves. This study explored the incorporation of these NaDES extracts into various carrier systems: hydrogels, emulsions, and emulgels stabilized with hydroxyethyl cellulose or xanthan gum. The results demonstrated that, when combined with synthetic UV filters, the NaDES extracts significantly enhanced the SPF and improved the antioxidant properties of the formulation.

Polysaccharide-Based Drug Carriers-A Patent Analysis.

Polysaccharide-based carriers as biomaterials for drug delivery have been inspiring scientists for years due to their exceptional characteristics, such as nontoxicity, biocompatibility, and degradability, as they are able to protect pharmaceutically active molecules and provide their controlled/modified release. This review focuses on selected drug delivery systems based on natural polymers, namely fucoidan, pullulan, dextran, and pectin, with the aim of highlighting published patent documents. The information contained in patents is very important because it is usually not published in any other document and is much less discussed as the state of the art in the scientific literature.

Expanded Perlite-Reinforced Alginate Xerogels: A Chemical Approach to Sustainable Building and Packaging Materials.

In sustainable construction and packaging, the development of novel bio-based materials is crucial, driving a re-evaluation of traditional components. Lightweight, biodegradable materials, including xerogels, have great potential in architectural and packaging applications. However, reinforcing these materials to improve their mechanical strength remains a challenge.

Toward the Development of the Trojan Female Technique in Pest Insects: Male-Specific Influence of Mitochondrial Haplotype on Reproductive Output in the Seed Beetle .

Biocontrol techniques that impair reproductive capacity of insect pests provide opportunities to control the dynamics of their populations while minimizing collateral damage to non-target species and the environment. The Trojan Female Technique, or TFT, is a method of the trans-generational fertility-based population control through the release of females that carry mitochondrial DNA mutations that negatively affect male, but not female, reproductive output. TFT is based on the evolutionary hypothesis that, due to maternal inheritance of mitochondria, mutations which are beneficial or neutral in females but harmful in males can accumulate in the mitochondrial genome without selection acting against them.

COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness against SARS-CoV-2-confirmed hospitalisation in the eastern part of the WHO European Region (2022-2023): a test-negative case-control study from the EuroSAVE network.

Background: Understanding COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness (VE) in preventing severe disease is critical to inform vaccine policy. We used the test-negative design to estimate VE against SARS-CoV-2-confirmed hospitalisation in adults ≥18 years in the eastern WHO European Region.

Methods: We included patients hospitalised for severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) at sentinel surveillance sites in Albania, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, North Macedonia, Serbia, and in Kosovo.

Glucosinolates and Their Hydrolytic Derivatives: Promising Phytochemicals With Anticancer Potential.

Recent research has increasingly focused on phytochemicals as promising anticancer agents, with glucosinolates (GSLs) and their hydrolytic derivatives playing a central role. These sulfur-containing compounds, found in plants of the Brassicales order, are converted by myrosinase enzymes into biologically active products, primarily isothiocyanates (ITCs) and indoles, which exhibit significant anticancer properties. Indole-3-carbinol, diindolylmethane, sulforaphane (SFN), phenethyl isothiocyanate (PEITC), benzyl isothiocyanate, and allyl isothiocyanate have shown potent anticancer effects in animal models, particularly in breast, prostate, lung, melanoma, bladder, hepatoma, and gastrointestinal cancers.

Mechanism of Interleukin-17A Regulation of Mesenchymal Stroma/Stem Cell Osteogenic Differentiation.

The immune and musculoskeletal systems closely interplay in bone repair and regeneration. After bone injury, the body produces high levels of cytokines and signaling molecules to balance bone formation and resorption. Interleukin (IL)-17A, a cytokine expressed early in the inflammatory process, profoundly influences osteoprogenitor cell fate, thereby contributing to bone homeostasis.

Impact of dementia and mild cognitive impairment on bone health in older people.

Mild cognitive impairment, dementia and osteoporosis are common diseases of ageing and, with the increasingly ageing global population, are increasing in prevalence. These conditions are closely associated, with shared risk factors, common underlying biological mechanisms and potential direct causal pathways. In this review, the epidemiological and mechanistic links between mild cognitive impairment, dementia and skeletal health are explored.

3D printed extended-release hydrochlorothiazide tablets.

In this study 3D printed tablets (printlets) with extended release of hydrochlorothiazide (HHT) as model active ingredient were designed and developed. Four formulations, F0.1, F1, F0.

Main pre-slaughter factors affecting carcass bruising and meat quality in beef cattle.

This study aimed to determine the prevalence of carcass bruising in Simmental cross-breed bulls and to characterize the bruises in terms of number, size, shape, severity, and the affected region of the carcass. In addition, the risk factors related to the pre-harvested and harvested phase of beef production and meat quality parameters, as well, were investigated. The prevalence of bruised carcasses was 40.

Light-Triggered Reversible Assembly of Halide Perovskite Nanoplatelets.

Advancements in stimuli-driven nanoactuators necessitate the discovery of photo-switchable, self-contained semiconductor nanostructures capable of precise mechanical responses. The reversible assembly of 0D CsBiI halide perovskite nanoplatelets (NPLs) between stacked and scattered configurations are demonstrated under light and dark, respectively. This sunlight-triggered perpetual flipping of the NPLs, occurring in less than a minute, is associated with a color change between brown and red.

The Meaning in Life Questionnaire: Revisiting the Evidence of Validity and Measurement Invariance Using the Exploratory Structural Equation Modeling.

The Meaning in Life Questionnaire (MLQ) assesses two distinct dimensions of meaning in life: presence of meaning and search for meaning. The MLQ is the most widely used instrument for measuring meaning in life, yet there is a limited variety of validity evidence on the originally proposed two-factor confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) solution. In this light, the present research examined, across five studies (total = 3,205), several aspects of the MLQ's validity and tested cross-gender and cross-national measurement invariance.

Tips and Tricks to Facilitate Late Open Surgical Conversion after Endovascular Aortic Aneurysms Repair.

Endovascular repair has significantly improved the treatment of aortic aneurysms, particularly in older and high-risk patients. However, many studies have not found significant differences in long-term outcomes when comparing open and endovascular repair methods. Additionally, endovascular repair is associated with a higher rate of aortic-related reinterventions compared to open repair (OR), sometimes necessitating late open surgical conversion (LOSC).

Upper airway obstructive events on noninvasive ventilation in NMD adolescents.

Home noninvasive ventilation (NIV) is expanding worldwide for pediatrics and is mainly indicated to treat nocturnal alveolar hypoventilation. Nasal mask is the most common interface used in children, but oronasal mask may be indicated in case of excessive mouth leaks or facial weakness. Obstructive events caused by the oronasal mask have been reported in a few studies on adult patients, but never in pediatrics.

An update on access to novel treatment for metastatic melanoma in Europe - A 2024 survey of the European melanoma registry and the European association of dermato-oncology.

Advances in cancer treatments have significantly improved their effectiveness, yet access to first-line therapies remains limited. A 2017 survey revealed that over 25 % of metastatic melanoma patients in Europe lacked access to recommended therapies. To address this, the European Association of Dermato-Oncology and the European Melanoma Registry conducted a follow-up study on the registration and reimbursement of first-line treatments.

How chloride salt mixtures affect the final gel properties of low-sodium myofibrillar protein: Underlining the perspective of gelation process.

This study aimed to investigate the performance differences of low-sodium myofibrillar protein (MP) gels substituted by different chloride salt mixtures from the perspective of gelation process. The results revealed that low-sodium MP substituted by KCl/CaCl exhibited higher turbidity and particle size at 40 % substitution, and formed protein aggregates earlier at 53 °C. During the gelation process, KCl/CaCl increased the extent of cross-linking as the substitution level increased from 10 % to 40 %, which was prone to forming final gels with poor palatability.

Predictors of survival and functioning of arteriovenous fistula in patients on hemodialysis during a one-year follow-up.

Introduction: The mortality rate of hemodialysis patients is extremely high and it is significantly affected by vascular access dysfunction. Our research aimed to determine predictive parameters of arteriovenous fistula functioning and survival in a one-year follow-up period.

Methods: The research was organized as a prospective, one-year study, which included 120 dialysis patients who were followed for one year.

Individualized dosing of rec-FSH for ovarian stimulation in women with PCOS reduces asynchronous follicle growth.

Purpose: We aimed to evaluate if ovarian stimulation with individualized dosing of recombinant follicle-stimulating hormone (rec-FSH) with follitropin delta compared with standard gonadotropin dosing reduce occurrence of follicular asynchrony in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF).

Methods: Matched case-control study analyzed occurrence of follicular growth asynchrony during ovarian stimulation and IVF outcomes in women with PCOS. Follicular growth was considered to be asynchronous when one or two leading follicles were at least 4 mm larger in diameter than the rest of the cohort on day 5 and 9 of stimulation.

Factors associated with low birth weight in low-income populations in the Western Balkans: insights from the multiple indicator cluster survey.

Introduction: Low birth weight, defined as a birth weight below 2,500 g, represents a significant public health concern with a multifactorial risk dimension. Socio-demographic factors and individual characteristics of women and their social environment could influence low birth weight. This study aimed to analyze the association between the socio-demographic and reproductive characteristics of women living in low-income households and low birth weight in Serbia, Kosovo, and Montenegro.

Males have higher psychological readiness to return to sports than females after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objectives: To examine sex differences in psychological readiness to return to sport following anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction as well as to determine whether males and females separately fulfilled cut-off values (≥65) of psychological readiness necessary to return to sport.

Information Sources: Web of Science, Scopus and PubMed were comprehensively searched from inception to January 2024 to identify relevant studies.

Eligibility Criteria: Observational investigations that compared males and females with a history of ACL reconstruction concerning psychological readiness to return to sport.

Allelopathic influence of usnic acid on Physcomitrium patens: A proteomics approach.

Allelopathy, the chemical interaction of plants by their secondary metabolites with surrounding organisms, profoundly influences their functional features. Lichens, symbiotic associations of fungi and algae and/or cyanobacteria, produce diverse secondary metabolites, among other usnic acid, which express to have potent biological activities. Mosses, i.