Associations between degree of food processing and all-cause and cause-specific mortality: a multicentre prospective cohort analysis in 9 European countries.

Background: Ultra-processed food (UPF) consumption has been linked with higher risk of mortality. This multi-centre study investigated associations between food intake by degree of processing, using the Nova classification, and all-cause and cause-specific mortality.

Methods: This study analyzed data from the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition.

Harm reduction associated with heated tobacco products: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised studies in humans comparing the outcomes of switching to heated tobacco products (HTPs) versus continuing conventional tobacco smoking by burning.

Methods: We searched the electronic databases which included PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Controlled Trials Register, and Google Scholar from inception to May 2023. Randomised Controlled Trials (RCTs) in humans comparing HTPs with conventional burnt tobacco products were selected.

Prognostic impact of inflammatory and nutritional biomarkers in pancreatic cancer.

Pancreatic cancer is usually associated with a poor prognosis. Surgery is the main curative treatment but pancreatic operations are aggressive and new tools that help clinicians to predict surgical and prognostic outcomes are necessary. Lu recently published a retrospective, single centre cohort study evaluating the impact of seven nutritional and inflammatory markers in pancreatic cancer surgical patients: The albumin-to-globulin ratio, prognostic nutritional index (PNI), systemic immune-inflammation index (SII), neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), nutritional risk index, and the geriatric nutritional risk index.

Demographic, anthropometric and intrasubject variations affect platelet-rich plasma formulation.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to describe the inter- and intra-individual differences in the platelet concentration between blood and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) preparation, assess intersubject differences considering demographic and anthropometric variables, describe PRP code distribution and analyse intrasubject variability.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted using a single-centre patient database from November 2021 to November 2023. It included patients with musculoskeletal pathologies treated with PRP injections.

Disentangling protein metabolic costs in human cells and tissues.

While more data are becoming available on gene activity at different levels of biological organization, our understanding of the underlying biology remains incomplete. Here, we introduce a metabolic efficiency framework that considers highly expressed proteins (HEPs), their length, and biosynthetic costs in terms of the amino acids (AAs) they contain to address the observed balance of expression costs in cells, tissues, and cancer transformation. Notably, the combined set of HEPs in either cells or tissues shows an abundance of large and costly proteins, yet tissues compensate this with short HEPs comprised of economical AAs, indicating a stronger tendency toward mitigating costs.

Primordial black holes and their gravitational-wave signatures.

In the recent years, primordial black holes (PBHs) have emerged as one of the most interesting and hotly debated topics in cosmology. Among other possibilities, PBHs could explain both some of the signals from binary black hole mergers observed in gravitational-wave detectors and an important component of the dark matter in the Universe. Significant progress has been achieved both on the theory side and from the point of view of observations, including new models and more accurate calculations of PBH formation, evolution, clustering, merger rates, as well as new astrophysical and cosmological probes.

Edible flowers' flavor, safety and their utilization as functional ingredients: a review.

Edible flowers have been a part of various traditional dishes around the world. The consumption of edible flowers has been rising due to their nutritional properties, minerals, antioxidants, phenolic and bioactive compounds, therapeutic properties, and also aesthetic appeal. Along with the nutrients, some antinutrients and other chemical, biological, microbial hazards may render flowers non-edible.

Massive subcutaneous filariosis by in beech marten () in Italy.

The beech marten () is a small-size mustelid endangered according to the IUCN Red List. Despite the plethora of parasites potentially affecting its population decline, subcutaneous filarioids are occasionally reported in martens and their competent arthropod vectors are to date unknown. Therefore, from January 2023 to August 2024, this study investigated the presence of subcutaneous filarioids and ectoparasites of road-killed beech martens ( = 7) from southwestern Italy.

Landscapes-a lens for assessing sustainability.

Context: There are urgent calls to transition society to more sustainable trajectories, at scales ranging from local to global. Landscape sustainability (LS), or the capacity for landscapes to provide equitable access to ecosystem services essential for human wellbeing for both current and future generations, provides an operational approach to monitor these transitions. However, the complexity of landscapes complicates how and what to consider when assessing LS.

 (Labiatae), a new high-mountain Mediterranean species from the marble outcrops of the Sierra de Guadarrama (Central System, Madrid, Segovia, Spain).

A new species of () is described from the calcareous, high-mountain Spanish flora in the central part of the Iberian Peninsula. It is found in a Mediterranean climate at high-elevation, perennial, calcareous grasslands, as well as in marble screes of anthropogenic origin in the Sierra de Guadarrama, Central System (Spain), in a reserve area within the Sierra de Guadarrama National Park, at 1996 m asl. Taxonomic morphological measurements were performed on collected specimens from Sierra de Guadarrama as well as on geographically-adjacent (i.

Pain Perception Threshold in Young High-Altitude Natives After Acute Exposure to Severe Hypoxic Conditions.

Previous studies indicate that individuals at high altitudes have a lower pain threshold than those living at sea level. This study evaluates the differences in pain perception among young people living at an altitude of 3800 m and after acute exposure to a severe hypoxic environment at more than 5100 m. Fourteen people (BMI of 22.

Dynamics of HDL-Cholesterol Following a Post-Myocardial Infarction Cardiac Rehabilitation Program.

Background: Exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation programs (CRP) are recommended for patients following acute coronary syndrome to potentially improve high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels and prognosis. However, not all patients reach target HDL-C levels. Here we analyze the dynamics and predictors of HDL-C increase during CRP in patients following ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction or occlusion myocardial infarction.

Caspase-4 Has Potential Utility as a Colorectal Tissue Biomarker for Dysplasia and Early-Stage Cancer.

Background And Aims: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second most deadly cancer globally. The rapidly rising incidence rate of CRC, coupled with increased diagnoses in individuals <50 years, indicates that early detection of CRC, and those at an increased risk of CRC development, is paramount to improve the survival rates of these patients. Here, we profile caspase-4 expression across 2 distinct CRC development pathways, sporadic CRC (sCRC) and inflammatory bowel disease-associated CRC (IBD-CRC), to examine its utility as a novel biomarker for CRC risk and diagnosis.

Challenges and improvement strategies in the hospitalization of chronic multimorbid patients.

Background: Addressing the growing challenge of hospitalizing chronic multimorbid patients, this study examines the strain these conditions impose on healthcare systems at a local level, focusing on a pilot program. Chronic diseases and complex patients require comprehensive management strategies to reduce healthcare burdens and improve patient outcomes. If proven effective, this pilot model has the potential to be replicated in other healthcare settings to enhance the management of chronic multimorbid patients.

A luminous and young galaxy at = 12.33 revealed by a JWST/MIRI detection of Hα and [O iii].

The James Webb Space Telescope has discovered a surprising population of bright galaxies in the very early Universe (≲500 Myr after the Big Bang) that is hard to explain with conventional galaxy-formation models and whose physical properties are not fully understood. Insight into their internal physics is best captured through nebular lines, but at these early epochs, the brightest of these spectral features are redshifted into the mid-infrared and remain elusive. Using the mid-infrared instrument onboard the James Webb Space Telescope, here we present a detection of Hα and doubly ionized oxygen ([O iii] 4959,5007 Å) from the bright, ultra-high-redshift galaxy candidate GHZ2/GLASS-z12.

Revisiting community-based traditional irrigation systems in India.

Several scholars, policy think tanks and advocacy groups have advocated for reviving community-based traditional irrigation systems. Traditional irrigation systems are conceptualised as sustainable and resilient alternatives to large irrigation infrastructures. But do traditional irrigation systems always represent just, sustainable, and resilient alternatives? Based on interviews, focus group discussion, ethnographic fieldwork, and archival research, the paper offers a nuanced socio-historical understanding of one such community-based irrigation system, aka the system of South Bihar, India.

Environmental implications of lettuce sourcing: Comparison of sourcing from vertical farms and conventional production.

Today's globalised agricultural sector poses significant environmental challenges that are expected to worsen with population growth, increased urbanisation, and with the effects of climate change. In this context, vertical farming systems have gained traction as potential solutions to create a more resilient and sustainable food system. This study aims to evaluate the environmental performance of mixed salad bags from a conventional supply chain and compare it with that of mixed salad supplied by a large-scale vertical farm.

Influence of the moisture and ash content in flue gases on the performance of adsorption processes using activated carbons to capture the CO for reuse in greenhouses.

This work studies the influence of flue gas composition, its moisture and ash content, on the efficiency of a CO adsorption/desorption process to capture the CO from flue gases along with its subsequent reuse in greenhouse CO enrichment (Patent ES2514090). The influence of the inlet flow rate, moisture, and ash content were analysed. The experimental conditions were based on those that are achievable under real operating conditions, namely an inlet flow rate from 1.

Humoral and cellular response to SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccine in paediatric heart transplant recipients.

Objective: The aim of this prospective cohort study is to analyse the humoral and cellular vaccine responses in paediatric heart transplant recipients (HTR, n = 12), and compare it with the response in healthy controls (HC, n = 14). All participants were 5-18 years old and vaccinated with mRNA vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 between December 2021 and May 2022.

Methods: The humoral response was measured by quantifying antibody titers against SARS-CoV-2 spike protein (anti-S).

International youth football research developments: A CiteSpace-based bibliometric analysis.

With the vigorous development of football, research on youth football has garnered significant attention from scholars, leading to an increase in published findings. However, there is currently no comprehensive retrospective study that examines the status, hotspots, and trends of research in this field. This study employed Cite Space, a visual bibliometric software, to systematically review and analyze 1637 articles from the Web of Science (WOS) and China Knowledge Infrastructure Project (CNKI) databases up to January 2024.

Navigating the "mode effect": A comparison of online questionnaires and face-to-face interviews.

From a methodological perspective, the "mode effect," which refers to the phenomenon where different survey methods can yield different responses despite asking the same questions, presents a significant contemporary challenge. Existing solutions suggested in the literature, such as the implementation of multi-mode surveys, have their drawbacks as they may introduce bias that could impact respondent behavior. This study aims to identify distinct visitor segments within two large populations, assessing their patterns of visitation to both national and state parks.

Anticipatory emotions and academic performance: The role of boredom in a preservice teachers' lab experience.

Affective experiences within academic contexts significantly influence educational outcomes. Despite this, the literature reveals a gap in generalising these effects to specific classroom activities, partly arising from the absence of suitable instruments to measure emotions in situational educational scenarios. Our study introduces an experience sampling method to measure sixteen discrete emotional states, deriving two scales for positive and negative activating emotions.

Comprehensive 4D-flow cardiac magnetic resonance evaluation of the descending thoracic aorta in aortic regurgitation.

Aims: To assess the reproducibility of 4D-Flow cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) parameters in the descending thoracic aorta-DTAo-(regurgitant fraction [RF], end-diastolic reverse flow [EDRF], and holodiastolic flow reversal [HDR]), and the relationship with RF in the sinotubular junction (STJ), and the left ventricular end-diastolic volume index (LVEDVI) in patients with chronic aortic regurgitation (AR).

Methods And Results: A descriptive study of these variables was conducted. A receiver operating characteristic curve was used to determine the optimal cut-off point.

Diagnosis and management of de novo non-specific spinal infections: European Association of Neurosurgical Societies (EANS) Spine Section Delphi consensus recommendations.

Introduction: The management of de novo non-specific spinal infections (spondylodiscitis - SD) remains inconsistent due to varying clinical practices and a lack of high-level evidence, particularly regarding the indications for surgery.

Research Question: This study aims to develop consensus recommendations for the diagnosis and management of SD, addressing diagnostic modalities, surgical indications, and treatment strategies.

Material And Methods: A Delphi process was conducted with 26 experts from the European Association of Neurosurgical Societies (EANS).