Highly Biocompatible Lamellar Liquid Crystals Based on Hempseed or Flaxseed Oil with Incorporated Betamethasone Dipropionate: A Bioinspired Multi-Target Dermal Drug Delivery System for Atopic Dermatitis Treatment.

Purpose: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is the most common chronic inflammatory skin disease that severely impairs patient's life quality and represents significant therapeutic challenge due to its pathophysiology arising from skin barrier dysfunction. Topical corticosteroids, the mainstay treatment for mild to moderate AD, are usually formulated into conventional dosage forms that are impeded by low drug permeation, resulting in high doses with consequent adverse effects, and also lack properties that would strengthen the skin barrier. Herein, we aimed to develop biomimetic lamellar lyotropic liquid crystals (LLCs), offering a novel alternative to conventional AD treatment.

Spatial genetic characterization of the red fox (Vulpes vulpes) in the area between the Alps and the Central Dinaric Mountains.

Red fox, Vulpes vulpes, is a globally distributed species characterized by its high adaptability to diverse habitats and a broad range of food resources. This remarkable adaptability has allowed the red fox to thrive in various environments, from urban areas to remote wilderness. In this study, we used a set of microsatellite markers for the comparative genetic analysis of red fox populations from two countries.

Electrostatic Interaction between SARS-CoV-2 and Charged Surfaces: Spike Protein Evolution Changed the Game.

Previous works show the key role of electrostatics in the SARS-CoV-2 virus in aspects such as virus-cell interactions or virus inactivation by ionic surfactants. Electrostatic interactions depend strongly on the variant since the charge of the Spike protein (responsible for virus-environment interactions) evolved across the variants from the highly negative Wild Type (WT) to the highly positive Omicron variant. The distribution of the charge also evolved from diffuse to highly localized.

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.

Association of plasma endocan levels with metabolic parameters and predictive value of endocan for the development of complications in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: An observational study.

The aim of the current research was to investigate the association between plasma endocan levels and metabolic control parameters, as well as to evaluate its predictive value for clinical complications in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DMT2). A total of 100 DMT2 patients participated in this prospective observational study. Plasma endocan levels were significantly elevated in DMT2 patients with HbA1c > 7% (1.

Beyond clinical observations: a scoping review of AI-detectable observable cues in borderline personality disorder.

Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD), impacting approximately 2% of adults worldwide, presents a formidable challenge in psychiatric diagnostics. Often underdiagnosed or misdiagnosed, BPD is associated with high morbidity and mortality. This scoping review embarks on a comprehensive exploration of observable cues in BPD, encompassing language patterns, speech nuances, facial expressions, nonverbal communication, and physiological measurements.

Optimizing sequence data analysis using convolution neural network for the prediction of CNV bait positions.

Background: Accurate prediction of copy number variations (CNVs) from targeted capture next-generation sequencing (NGS) data relies on effective normalization of read coverage profiles. The normalization process is particularly challenging due to hidden systemic biases such as GC bias, which can significantly affect the sensitivity and specificity of CNV detection. In many cases, the kit manifests provide only the genome coordinates of the targeted regions, and the exact bait design of the oligo capture baits is not available.

European clinical practice guideline: managing and treating laryngopharyngeal reflux disease.

Objective: To propose a European consensus for managing and treating laryngopharyngeal reflux disease (LPRD) to guide primary care and specialist physicians.

Methods: Twenty-three European experts (otolaryngologists, gastroenterologists, surgeons) participated in a modified Delphi process to revise 38 statements about the definition, clinical management, and treatment of LPRD. Three voting rounds were conducted on a 5-point scale and a consensus was defined a priori as agreement by 80% of the experts.

Microplasma Controlled Nanogold Sensor for SERS of Aliphatic and Aromatic Explosives with PCA-KNN Recognition.

Nanogold is an emerging material for enhancing surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS), which enables the detection of hazardous analytes at trace levels. This study presents a simple, single-step plasma synthesis method to control the size and yield of Au nanoparticles by using plasma-liquid redox chemistry. The pin-based argon plasma reduces the Au precursor in under 5 min, synthesizing Au spherical particles ranging from ∼20 nm at 0.

Bacillus subtilis Intraspecies Interactions Shape Probiotic Activity Against Salmonella Typhimurium.

Commercial probiotics are often formulated as multi-strain cocktails, but the effects of social interactions, particularly between strains of a species, are often neglected, despite their potential to contribute to higher-order interactions where these interactions could affect those with a third party. In this study, we investigated the probiotic potential of a collection of Bacillus subtilis strains against Salmonella Typhimurium in single-strain and mixed cultures. The results indicate a promising probiotic potential of B.

Comparison of different disinfection protocols against contamination of ceramic surfaces with biofilm.

Environmental contamination with biofilm can be a source of healthcare-associated infections. Disinfection with various biocidal active substances is usually the method of choice to remove contamination with biofilm. In this study we tested 13 different disinfection protocols using gaseous ozone, citric acid, and three working concentrations of benzalkonium chloride-based professional disinfecting products on 24-hour-old biofilms formed by two strains on ceramic tiles.

Episiotomy and innervation zones of the external anal Sphincter: A case series investigating the impact on neurological patterns.

Objective: To investigate the impact of mediolateral episiotomy on the innervation zones of the External Anal Sphincter (EAS) in the absence and presence of direct muscular injury.

Methods: This case series examined four primiparous women, including three who underwent vaginal deliveries with mediolateral episiotomy and one cesarean section case for reference. Pre- and post-delivery assessments utilized surface electromyography (sEMG) and endoanal ultrasound to evaluate changes in the EAS's innervation zones and obstetrical EAS injuries, alongside the Wexner score for fecal incontinence.

Substygophily in Dinaric Karst: A Model Case of Locally Endemic Minnows (Leuciscinae).

The Dinaric Karst extends along the Adriatic coast of the Western Balkan Peninsula and is home to a group of "karst minnows" of the genera , , and , which have adapted to the highly variable water conditions in the karst by spending up to several months underground, but require surface habitats for spawning, defining them as substygophiles. The three species of the genus , , , and , are defined by restricted ranges, making them vulnerable to pollution and extended draughts caused by the climate change. In this study, the phylogeny of Leusciscinae was reconstructed using 15 and one , one , and one complete mitochondrial genomes and the position of the genus within the subfamily as sister species to the clade was confirmed.

Beeswax-poly(vinyl alcohol) composite films for bread packaging.

The study aimed to improve the barrier characteristics of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) film by adding beeswax (BW) and glycerin and by heat treatment in order to become a potential suitable material for bread packaging. XRD, FTIR and XPS showed new cross-links between PVA and beeswax demonstrating the composite nature of the film. TGA-DTA showed that glycerin reduced the dehydration and that the beeswax improved theirs thermal stability.

Dataset on hydrogeochemical characteristics of spring and surface waters in the complex karst catchment area of Southern Dalmatia (Croatia) and Western Herzegovina (Bosnia and Herzegovina).

Large and complex karst catchments, like the one in Southern Dalmatia (Croatia) and Western Herzegovina (Bosnia and Herzegovina), are fragile environments requiring careful protection and sustainable water resources management. Understanding the processes that influence karst aquifer water chemistry is essential for the effective protection of water quality and quantity, ensuring sustainable resource availability and minimizing vulnerability to contamination. A hydrogeochemical dataset comprising over 30 groundwater (springs) and surface water samples, was collected in this cross-border catchment area from September 2013 to September 2020, accounting for seasonal variations.

Benchmarking and performance evaluation of a novel deformable image registration software for radiotherapy CT images.

Purpose: We evaluated and benchmarked a novel deformable image registration (DIR) software functionality (DirOne, Cosylab d.d., Ljubljana, Slovenia) by comparing it to two commercial systems, MIM and VelocityAI, following AAPM task group 132 (TG-132) guidelines.

New Inhibitors of β-1,4-Galactosyltransferase I Discovered by Virtual Screening.

Seven different enzymes comprise the galactosyltransferases family, of which β-1,4-galactosyltransferase I (β-1,4-GALT1) is the major contributor to galactosylation activity in cells. Since abnormalities in galactosylation are associated with many pathophysiological conditions, β-1,4-GALT1 is an interesting new target for drug discovery and molecular probe design. There are several known β-1,4-GALT1 inhibitors, but most of them suffer from low cell permeability and thus low in vivo activity.

Synthesis, Trans-Cis Photoisomerization, Fluorescence Decay Studies of Methoxy Ester Functionalized Alkoxy Side Chain Azobenzene Compounds and Their Photoluminescence Dynamics.

In this study, a series of new methoxy ester functionalized core fluorinated, chloro-fluorinated azobenzene derivatives were synthesized. The molecular structures of the azobenzene derivatives (3a-3c and 4a-4c) were confirmed through various analytical methods, with variations in the alkoxy chain length on one end of the aromatic ring. Optical absorption studies of 3a, 3b revealed π-π* transitions around 368-392 nm.

Two New Species of Stygobiotic Amphipod (Amphipoda: Niphargidae) and their Phylogenetic Relationship with Other Congeners from Iran.

Two new amphipod species from Iran, sp. nov. and sp.

Psychometric Validation of the Slovenian Version of the Revised Child Anxiety and Depression Scale - Child and Parent Versions (RCADS and RCADS-P).

Objective: Anxiety and depression are common disorders in children and adolescents and can have a negative impact on their lives. The Revised Child Anxiety and Depression Scale - Child and Parent versions (RCADS and RCADS-P) are widely used standardized measurement tools, but the Slovenian versions have not yet been validated. The aim of the present study was to examine the psychometric properties of the Slovenian version of RCADS and RCADS-P in a representative Slovenian school sample.

Supramolecular Dimeric Mn Complexes: Synthesis, Structure, Magnetic Properties, and Catalytic Oxidation Studies.

In this study, a tetradentate Schiff-base ligand (HL), synthesized by the condensation of ethylenediamine with 2-hydroxy-3-methoxy-5-methylbenzaldehyde, was reacted with either manganese salts or manganese salts in the presence of various pseudohalides in methanol. This reaction resulted in the formation of five mononuclear Mn complexes: [Mn(L)(HO)](NO)·1/2HO·1/2CHOH (), [Mn(L)(HO)](ClO)·HO (), [Mn(L)(N)(HO)]·1/3HO (), [Mn(L)(NCS)(HO)] (), and [Mn(L)(HO)](dca) () (where dca is dicyanamide ion). X-ray crystallography revealed that the Mn centers adopt a hexa-coordinate pseudo-octahedral geometry, where the equatorial plane is constructed with phenoxo oxygen and imine nitrogen atoms from the Schiff base ligand, while the axial positions are occupied by water molecules or a combination of water and pseudohalides.

Interaction between Uranyl Cations and Layered Double Hydroxide Nanoparticles: Implications for Nuclear Wastewater Management.

Effective uranium (U) capture is required for the remediation of contaminated solutes associated with the nuclear fuel cycle, including fuel reprocessing effluents, decommissioning, or nuclear accident cleanup. Here, interactions between uranyl cations (UO ) and a Mg-Al layered double hydroxide (LDH) were investigated using two types of uranyl-bearing LDH colloids. The first (ULDH) was synthesized by coprecipitation with 10% of Mg substituted by UO .

Triclinic polymorph of bis-[2-methyl-3-(pyridin-2-yl)imidazo[1,5-]pyridin-2-ium] tetra-chloridocadmium(II).

The crystal structure of the title organic-inorganic hybrid salt, (CHN)[CdCl], (I), has been reported with four mol-ecules in the asymmetric unit in a monoclinic cell [Vassilyeva (2021 ▸). , , 7713-7722]. While using two different aldehydes in the oxidative cyclization-condensation involving CHNH·HCl to prepare a new monovalent cation with the imidazo[1,5-]pyridinium skeleton, a new polymorph was obtained for (I) in space group 1 and a unit cell with approximately half the volume of the monoclinic form.

Country-Specific Roadmaps for Scaling Up Integrated Care in Belgium, Slovenia, and Cambodia - Lessons Learned from the SCUBY Project.

Introduction: The SCUBY project aimed to provide knowledge on the scaling-up of an Integrated Care Package (ICP) for type 2 diabetes and hypertension across three distinct health systems (Cambodia, Slovenia, and Belgium). Here, we analyse the different elements of the country-specific scale-up roadmaps to identify similarities and differences, and share lessons learned.

Methods: Thematic analysis was used to derive crucial roadmap elements from key SCUBY documents (n = 20), including policy briefs, interim reports, research outputs, and consortium meeting notes.

Diagnosis and management of peripartum cardiomyopathy and recurrence risk.

Peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) is a rare, but serious condition, with a non-negligible risk of adverse events. Several risk factors for PPCM have been individuated over the years, including Afro-American ethnicity, preeclampsia, advanced maternal age, genetic predisposition, multiparity, twin pregnancy, obesity, smoking and diabetes. However, PPCM pathophysiology is still poorly understood, thus making it challenging to develop disease specific therapies.