Efficacy of Antimicrobial Dry Fog in Improving the Environmental Microbial Burden in an Inpatient Ward.

In healthcare environments with high microbial loads, effective infection control measures are critical for reducing airborne and surface contamination. One of the novel modalities in the achievement of these goals is the use of antimicrobial mists, such as droplets, in the form of dry fog. Although the usage of dry fog in the disinfection of contained healthcare microenvironments is well known, the effect of such a system in terms of a meaningful reduction in the microbial burden in an open inpatient ward is unclear.

Mode of birth in nulliparous term singleton pregnancies in vertex presentation before and after implementation of an evidence-based intervention: quality-improvement study.

Purpose: The main objective of this study was to assess the impact of a composite quality improvement intervention on mode of birth in nullipara term singleton vertex (NTSVs).

Material And Methods: This was an ambidirectional study following the implementation of the intervention to reduce cesarean section rate in NSTV by comparing two birth cohorts, pre-composite quality improvement intervention cohort (January 2013-December 2015) and post-composite quality improvement intervention cohort (January 2018-December 2020).

Results: In the studied periods, there was a total of 7713 NTSV births.

Association of trabecular bone score corrected for tissue thickness with glucose metabolism in acromegaly.

Introduction: Acromegaly is associated with increased vertebral fracture (VF) risk regardless of bone mineral density (BMD). However, the vertebral trabecular compartment is still low; a possible contributor to this may be impaired glucose metabolism (GM) which frequently complicates acromegaly. Additionally, soft tissue thickness may confound bone imaging in acromegaly patients.

Establishment of recurrent exposures reference levels for repeated computed tomography examinations in adult patients on a nationwide level in Slovakia.

Introduction: The study aims were: (1) to assess the incidence in 1 year, the cumulative incidences and the period prevalence in 3/5 years of the condition of patients accruing cumulative effective dose (CED) ≥ 100 mSv in health care centres providing CT examinations in Slovakia; and (2) to quantify their variability among different centres, to test the feasibility of establishing recurrent exposure reference levels (RERL) on a nationwide level.

Materials And Methods: The data were tracked during five consecutive years using the CT dose index and dose-length-product along with the patient's ID. ED was calculated using conversion factors.

Association of HLA-G Expression, Its Genetic Variants and Related Neuro-Immunomodulation with Characteristics of Bladder Carcinoma.

Background: Human leukocyte antigen G (HLA-G) is an immune checkpoint molecule with immunosuppressive and anti-inflammatory activities. It belongs to class I non-classical major histocompatibility complex molecules and has been upregulated in various cancer types. In bladder cancer (BC) tumors, the association of HLA-G with cancer progression has to be explained.

The role of histology in tissue engineering: Significance of complex morphological characterization of decellularized foreskin scaffolds.

Decellularization is a technique of cell removal that prepares vacant extracellular matrices (ECMs), which can be reseeded with patient-specific cells and used in regenerative medicine. Histological methods are vital for protocol standardization and efficacy assessment, which are necessary for preparing such bioscaffolds. Foreskins from male subjects (n=20) aged three to fifteen years were harvested and decellularized using detergent-based and enzyme-based protocols.

Exploring the black box of human reproduction: endometrial organoids and assembloids - generation, implantation modeling, and future clinical perspectives.

One of the critical processes in human reproduction that is still poorly understood is implantation. The implantation of an early human embryo is considered a significant limitation of successful pregnancy. Therefore, researchers are trying to develop an ideal model of endometrium that can mimic the endometrial micro-environment as much as possible.

COVID-19 Infection and Vaccination Effects on Breast Implant Illness: A Case Report.

Breast implant illness (BII) is a term used to describe a range of symptoms associated with silicone breast implants. This condition suggests that silicone may trigger symptoms in individuals who are immunologically predisposed, and the spectrum of symptoms may be linked to autonomic dysregulation in these patients. We present the case of a female patient in her mid-40s with a history of autoimmune thyroiditis who had not required prior therapy.

Sex differences in the correlation between lipids related to cardiovascular risk factors and small dense LDL particles in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Objective: Sex differences in lipid metabolism associated with prevalent small dense (S-) low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol particles are not elucidated. An LDL to apolipoprotein B (ApoB) ratio < 1.2 can estimate how prevalent S-LDL particles are and, thus, reflect cardiovascular risk.

Demographic, epidemiological and clinical characteristics of Ukrainian war refugees with HIV infection in the Slovak Republic.

Background: The Slovak Republic, an Eastern European country, borders Ukraine, which has one of the highest rates of HIV/AIDS in Europe. This study aims to inform readers about the demographic characteristics of Ukrainian war refugees with HIV/AIDS seeking temporary protection status in Slovakia due to the Russian invasion of February 24, 2022. It focuses on their epidemiology, immunological profiles, co-infections, and treatment.

Enigmatic thymus: Variations in anatomical localisation of thymic tissue as an easily misdiagnosed congenital anomaly in surgical practice.

We point out the issue of differential diagnosis regarding the finding of ectopically localised thymic tissue (a thymic cyst) in the neck. Thymic tissue can be found anywhere along its developmental tract of descent, from the angle of the mandible to the upper mediastinum. Disruption of the thymic descent can result in ectopically/abnormally localised islets of accessory thymic tissue, which may undergo cystic changes, as described in a case report by Sun .

Dysfibrinogenemia and hypofibrinogenemia - Spectrum of pathogenic variants in Slovak patients.

Introduction: Congenital hypofibrinogenemia (CH) and congenital dysfibrinogenemia (CD) are rare coagulation disorders caused by quantitative or qualitative defects in the fibrinogen gene. The aim of this study was to characterize the genetic background and the clinical manifestations of congenital fibrinogen disorders in the patients from Slovakia registered at the National Haemophilia Centre.

Materials And Methods: Results of genetic analysis of the fibrinogen genes FGA, FGB and FGG using polymerase chain reaction followed by direct sequencing were evaluated in 36 patients.

DNA methylation at cannabinoid type 1 and dopamine D2 receptor genes in saliva samples of psychotic subjects: Is there an effect of Cannabis use?

Psychosis is a characterizing feature of many mental disorders that dramatically affects human thoughts and perceptions, influencing the ability to distinguish between what is real and what is not. Both genetic and environmental factors, such as stressful events or drug use, play a pivotal role in the development of symptomatology and therefore changes in the epigenome may be of relevance in modeling a psychotic phenotype. According to the well-documented dysregulation of endocannabinoid and dopaminergic system genes in schizophrenia, we investigated DNA methylation cannabinoid type 1 receptor (CNR1) and dopamine D2 receptor (DRD2) genes in saliva samples from psychotic subjects using pyrosequencing.

Increased stress burden and electrodermal reactivity in bladder cancer patients in comparison to healthy controls.

The purpose of our study was to assess specific physiological parameters associated with stress responses in bladder cancer (BCa) patients compared to healthy individuals. By examining the transition from a supine to a sitting position, representing a mild physiological load, we investigated the changes in autonomic nervous system (ANS) activity as reflected by alterations in these parameters, indicating shifts in ANS regulation, using non-linear heart rate variability (HRV) parameters (0V%, 2UV%, parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous system - PNS and SNS indices), modified heart rate acceleration (ACmod) and deceleration capacities (DCmod), heart rate (HR), electrodermal activity (EDA), and also their correlations with perceived stress score. Our findings showed that BCa patients (n = 38) exhibited elevated resting HR, heightened SNS index, and increased EDA compared to their healthy counterparts (n = 47), indicating a notable physiological stress burden.

Nephroptosis and ureteroinguinal incarcerated hernia mimicking acute appendicitis.

The involvement of kidney, perirenal fat, and ureter is a rare variant of inguinal hernia. We report a case of a 78-year-old man presenting with typical clinical signs of acute appendicitis. Ultrasonography and CT scan revealed ptosis of the right kidney with a major part of the perirenal capsule involved in a large right sided inguinal hernia with acute obstruction of the ureter and urostasis.

Dental Age Assessment Based on Developmental Stages and Maturity Index of Third Molars for Medico-Legal Purposes.

As results may vary depending on the method of examination, this paper analyzes methods of age estimation based on the maturation index of third molars (I) and Kohler's developmental stages in living individuals. A total of 1475 orthopantomograms were analyzed. The results showed that the development of third molars tended to be more advanced in males than in females.

In-person psychoeducational intervention to reduce rehospitalizations and improve the clinical course of major depressive disorder: a non-randomized pilot study.

Background: Emerging issues in the management of major depressive disorder (MDD) comprise a nonadherence to treatment and treatment failures, depressive recurrence and relapses, misidentification of incoming exacerbated phases and consequently, a chronification of depression. While antidepressant drugs constitute the standard of care for MDD, effective psychosocial interventions are needed to reduce rehospitalizations and other adverse events. The present study primarily investigated the effects and impact of implementing a structured psychoeducational intervention on the clinical course of MDD.